Career Day
Format Lyrics


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Today's been a career day
Futures made and fortunes lost
As I'm standing in the lobby
Waiting for the elevator to take me away
Up to nine or ten, maybe eleven
The sound of sirens fading
As she whispers in my ear
She's saying "It's too late to wish success
So get undressed and please just come to bed
Cause I'm the last real thing you've got
You're cursed by all ambitious thoughts
Is that all you've got?"

As for you you spin a story
Like a spider spins a web
See that's a metaphor no wait a similie
I'm still learning but I think I'm getting better
Oh if I'm not tortured
How are you ever going to relate
I've been condemned by those I love
Wishing me the worst as I try my best
But she's the last real thing I've got
I'm cursed by all ambitious thoughts
Is that all you've got?

Love, close your eyes and cover, cover your ears
For the end is near, but the beginning is here

In with the outro and out with the old
Headed for failure from what we've been told
In with the outro and out with the old
With nothing to offer so nothing's been sold
In with the outro and out with the old
Forgive me and give me one more chance to fold
In with the outro and out with the old




There's nothing to lose when there's nothing to hold
Rest assured we'll be together in the morning

Overall Meaning

In Format's song "Career Day," the singer reflects on the highs and lows of a day that has brought both success and failure. As he stands in a lobby waiting for the elevator to take him to his destination, he contemplates the unpredictable nature of his career path. The sound of sirens in the distance is a reminder of the chaotic and often unforgiving world outside. In this moment of uncertainty, his partner provides a sense of stability and comfort. Despite their love, however, the singer is haunted by his own ambition and the ways in which it may be leading him astray. He juxtaposes his partner's realness with the illusionary qualities of his own career goals. The lyrics suggest a tension between the singer's desire for achievement and his longing for something more authentic.


In the final verse, the singer encourages his partner to close her eyes and ears to the chaos of the world outside as they embrace the new beginnings that come with the end of the day. The outro repeats the phrase "In with the outro and out with the old" suggesting that change and renewal are always on the horizon.


Line by Line Meaning

Today's been a career day
Today has been a day of making future and losing some fortunes, primarily in terms of one's career.


As I'm standing in the lobby
The singer is standing in the hotel's lobby.


Waiting for the elevator to take me away
The singer is waiting for the elevator to take them away to the upper floors.


Up to nine or ten, maybe eleven
The artist is possibly heading up to the high floors of the hotel.


The sound of sirens fading
The sound of sirens is becoming faint as the artist moves away from them, possibly walking towards the elevator.


As she whispers in my ear
The singer's partner is whispering in their ear, possibly while they're in the elevator or before they leave.


She's saying 'It's too late to wish success
The singer's partner is telling them that it's too late to wish for success in their career.


So get undressed and please just come to bed
The artist's partner wants them to come to bed and give up on their ambition.


Cause I'm the last real thing you've got
The artist's partner is the only real thing they have in their life.


You're cursed by all ambitious thoughts
The artist is incapable of achieving their ambitious thoughts.


Is that all you've got?
The singer's partner mocks them with this statement, implying they've lost their spirit and ambition.


As for you you spin a story
The artist is referring to someone who spins a story, perhaps indicating they are a liar.


Like a spider spins a web
The person who spins the story is compared to a spider spinning a web.


See that's a metaphor no wait a similie
The singer corrects themselves by stating that the comparison is not a metaphor but a simile.


I'm still learning but I think I'm getting better
The singer is still learning the difference between a metaphor and a simile, but they're improving.


Oh if I'm not tortured
The artist believes that they cannot relate to someone else if they are not suffering.


How are you ever going to relate
The artist questions how they can relate to someone else if they're not going through hard times.


I've been condemned by those I love
The singer reveals that those they love have cursed them for their actions and possibly their ambition.


Wishing me the worst as I try my best
The singer's loved ones want them to fail, even though they are still trying to succeed.


But she's the last real thing I've got
The artist's partner is the only genuine thing they have in their life.


I'm cursed by all ambitious thoughts
The artist's ambition seems to be a curse that is preventing them from succeeding.


Love, close your eyes and cover, cover your ears
The artist is addressing their partner, asking them to close their eyes and cover their ears as the end of something is near, but a new beginning is about to start.


For the end is near, but the beginning is here
This line expresses the idea that something is about to end while something new is about to begin.


In with the outro and out with the old
The artist is suggesting that we're at the end of something, and it's time to bring something new.


Headed for failure from what we've been told
The singer or someone else is predicted to be unsuccessful, as per what they've been told.


With nothing to offer so nothing's been sold
The singer or someone else has nothing to provide or sell.


Forgive me and give me one more chance to fold
The singer is apologizing for something and asking for another chance to give up.


There's nothing to lose when there's nothing to hold
The idea behind this line is that when one has nothing to grab and lose, they can take risks more easily.


Rest assured we'll be together in the morning
The artist ensures that they'll wake up together in the morning with their partner.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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