20th Call of the Day
Ethan Hawke Lyrics
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My memory lost out in the lights
Speedin' someplace off the coast
Tears runnin' down my eyes.
So fall into me if you must
But be forewarned
Look up, look up, look up to the sky
Like I've got nothin' to say
Traffic is mumblin', the birds are still singing
Their twentieth call of the day
Their twentieth call of the day.
Emptiness is an empty drawer
That used to smell just like your perfume
A stack of records lined up to play
But nothing plays
The stereo is just on.
So fall into me if you must
But be forewarned
Look up, look up, look up to the sky
To the light
Through the trees where the shadows play
Traffic is mumblin', the church bells ring
Their twentieth call of the day
Their twentieth call of the day.
I'd wait around here forever
Just to hear you say my name again
I will remember all the things you said
I will remember all the things we did.
So fall into me if you must
But be forewarned
Look up, look up, look up to the sky
To the light
Through the trees where the shadows play
Traffic is mumblin', the birds are still singing
Their twentieth call of the day
Their twentieth call of the day.
The song "20th Call of the Day" by Ethan Hawke revolves around themes of emptiness, loneliness and longing for someone who has been lost in life. The first verse suggests that the singer has spent their entire life feeling like a ghost, with memories lost in bright lights, speeding through life while crying tears of solitude. The second verse paints a picture of a home that was once filled with the scent of a loved one's perfume, now left with empty drawers and a silent stereo. The chorus seems to be a plea for someone to come back into the singer's life, even if it is for a brief moment, to feel a sense of connection again. He is asking them to look up at the sky, to remember that there is still beauty in the world, even when things seem hopeless and mundane.
The final verse shows the extent of the singer's longing, saying that they would wait forever just to hear the person's voice again, to remember the things they used to do together. The overall message of the song is one of a deep sense of loneliness and the desire to connect with someone who feels like home. The repeated line of "their twentieth call of the day" emphasizes the passing of time and the monotony of everyday life, which makes the need for connection even more urgent.
Line by Line Meaning
My whole life I was a ghost
I felt invisible and unnoticed throughout my life
My memory lost out in the lights
My memories have faded away due to the bright, distracting lights of the world
Speedin' someplace off the coast
I am rapidly moving towards an unknown destination far away from the shore
Tears runnin' down my eyes.
I am crying uncontrollably
So fall into me if you must
You can depend on me if you need to
But be forewarned
I must caution you first
Look up, look up, look up to the sky
Focus your attention towards the endless sky above
Past the freeway
Ignore the noise and chaos of daily life
Like I've got nothin' to say
I am silent and unable to express myself
Traffic is mumblin', the birds are still singing
The world continues to move chaotically while the natural world remains unaffected and serene
Their twentieth call of the day
The birds have sung this same melody twenty times today
Emptiness is an empty drawer
A feeling of loneliness and longing is like an unoccupied drawer
That used to smell just like your perfume
The scent of you is still ingrained into my memory
A stack of records lined up to play
I have many things I could do or experience, but I feel unmotivated to pursue them
But nothing plays
I am stuck in a rut and lack the energy to move forward
The stereo is just on.
There is a sound coming from the stereo, but it fails to fill the void
I'd wait around here forever
I will remain in this place for an indefinite amount of time
Just to hear you say my name again
I long for the sound of your voice calling out to me
I will remember all the things you said
Your words have stayed with me and continue to resonate
I will remember all the things we did.
Our experiences together will always remain in my memory
To the light
Move towards the brightness and positivity of life
Through the trees where the shadows play
Pass through the darkness and obstacles that challenge our journey
Traffic is mumblin', the church bells ring
The bustle of road noise coexists with the soothing sounds of the church bells
Their twentieth call of the day
The bells have rung twenty times today with unwavering purpose
Traffic is mumblin', the birds are still singing
The everyday happenings of life continue on as nature persists in unbothered splendor
Their twentieth call of the day.
The birds have sung twenty times today with unwavering persistence.
Writer(s): ethan hawke
Contributed by Daniel D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.