Born in Brooklyn, Nilsson moved to Los Angeles as a teenager to escape his family's poor financial situation. While working as a computer programmer at a bank, he grew interested in musical composition and close-harmony singing and was successful in having some of his songs recorded by various artists, such as the Monkees. In 1967, he debuted on RCA Victor with the LP Pandemonium Shadow Show, followed by a variety of releases that included a collaboration with Randy Newman (Nilsson Sings Newman, 1970) and the original children's story The Point! (1971).
He created the first remix album, Aerial Pandemonium Ballet, in 1971, and recorded the first mashup song ("You Can't Do That") in 1967. His most commercially successful album, Nilsson Schmilsson (1971), produced the international top 10 singles "Without You" and "Coconut". His other top 10 hit, "Everybody's Talkin'" (1968), was featured prominently in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy. A version of Nilsson's "One," released by Three Dog Night in 1969, also reached the U.S. top 10.
During a 1968 press conference, The Beatles were asked what their favorite American group was and answered "Nilsson." Sometimes called "the American Beatle," he soon formed close friendships with John Lennon and Ringo Starr, joining them in the Hollywood Vampires drinking club. He and Lennon produced one collaborative album, Pussy Cats (1974). After 1977, Nilsson left RCA, and his record output diminished. In response to Lennon's 1980 murder, he took a hiatus from the music industry to campaign for gun control. For the rest of his life, he recorded only sporadically. In 1994, Nilsson died of a heart attack while in the midst of recording what became his last album, Losst and Founnd (2019).
The craft of Nilsson's songs and the defiant attitude he projected remain touchstones for later generations of indie rock musicians. Nilsson was voted No. 62 in Rolling Stone's 2015 list of the "100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time," where he was described as "a pioneer of the Los Angeles studio sound" and "a crucial bridge" between 1960s psychedelia and the 1970s singer-songwriter era. The RIAA certified Nilsson Schmilsson and Son of Schmilsson (1972) as gold records, indicating over 500,000 units sold each. He earned two Grammy Awards (for "Everybody's Talkin'" and "Without You").
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Nilsson
Discography
Spotlight on Nilsson (1966)
Pandemonium Shadow Show (1967)
Aerial Ballet (1968)
Skidoo (1968) (soundtrack)
Harry (1969)
Nilsson Sings Newman (1970)
The Point! (1970) (studio album and soundtrack)
Nilsson Schmilsson (1971)
Son of Schmilsson (1972)
A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night (1973)
Son of Dracula (1974) (soundtrack)
Pussy Cats (1974)
Duit on Mon Dei (1975)
Sandman (1976)
...That's the Way It Is (1976)
Knnillssonn (1977)
Flash Harry (1980)
Popeye (1980) (soundtrack)
Losst and Founnd (2019)
Here's Why I Did Not Go to Work Today
Harry Nilsson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Thursday has its own peculiar way
Of saying "hey"
Sometimes Thursday almost
Makes you want to run away
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Yeah, Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Let's go have a picnic, Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Hope it doesn't rain
When I'm feeling Thursday
I go and have a drink
If Thursday was a boat I bet it'd sink
I did on Monday
I tried on Tuesday
Wednesday's simply not my cup of tea, oh
Thank Heaven it's Friday
Thank the Lord for the weekend
Thursday now, that's such a crazy, lazy day
They say Monday's child is full of faith
Tuesday's child is fair of face
Thursday's child has far to go
And it's no wonder
When the week becomes a rat race
You can bet, win, show or place
But never bet on Thursday
'Cause God's not on its case
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Don't get me wrong
It's just that Thursday's twice as long as it should be
It's twice as long
Mondays, Tuesdays, weekends, Fridays
Don't get in my way
But Thursday's just a crazy, lazy day
Monday is a blues day
That goes for Tuesday
Wednesday's just the middle of the week, yeah, hmm
Friday is just another payday
The weekend's just another heyday
But Thursday's surreptitiously unique
That's why I didn't go to work today
Thursday's got its own peculiar way
Of saying "hey"
Sometimes Thursday makes you want to run away
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
The song "Here's Why I Did Not Go to Work Today" by Harry Nilsson is a humorous ode to Thursdays. The lyrics describe Thursday as a day that has a unique and peculiar way of saying "hey" and making people want to run away. The singer of the song explains that he did not go to work because Thursdays are crazy and lazy days, and that he would rather have a picnic and hope that it doesn't rain.
The song also explores the superstitions behind each day of the week, with Thursday being known as the day for people who have far to go. The singer also suggests that Thursdays are twice as long as they should be, and that even if you bet on it, God is not on its case.
Overall, the song is a lighthearted and fun take on a day of the week that often goes unnoticed. It highlights the idea that sometimes it's okay to take a break and enjoy life.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's why I did not go to work today
I am going to explain the reasons why I didn't go to work today
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Thursdays are peculiar and difficult to deal with, as they make people feel lazy and unmotivated
Thursday has its own peculiar way
Thursday has its own unique character
Of saying "hey"
Which includes making people feel unmotivated and unproductive
Sometimes Thursday almost
Sometimes Thursdays can be so overwhelming that they make you want to avoid them
Makes you want to run away
Thursdays can be so difficult that they make you want to escape from them
Yeah, Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Thursdays can be very challenging and unproductive
Let's go have a picnic, Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Even though Thursdays are challenging, one can still choose to do something enjoyable like going for a picnic
Hope it doesn't rain
I hope the weather doesn't ruin the picnic
When I'm feeling Thursday
When I am dealing with the challenges of Thursday
I go and have a drink
I sometimes drink to cope with the difficulties of Thursdays
If Thursday was a boat I bet it'd sink
Thursdays are so challenging that they would sink even if they were a boat
I did on Monday
I went to work on Monday
I tried on Tuesday
I attempted to work on Tuesday
Wednesday's simply not my cup of tea, oh
I don't particularly enjoy Wednesdays either
Thank Heaven it's Friday
I am thankful that it is finally Friday
Thank the Lord for the weekend
I thank the Lord for the weekend, which is a break from challenging weekdays
Thursday now, that's such a crazy, lazy day
Thursdays are still challenging and unproductive
They say Monday's child is full of faith
There is a popular belief that people born on Mondays are full of faith
Tuesday's child is fair of face
There is a popular belief that people born on Tuesdays are attractive
Thursday's child has far to go
There is a popular belief that people born on Thursdays have a long journey ahead of them
And it's no wonder
It is not surprising
When the week becomes a rat race
When the work week becomes chaotic and overwhelming
You can bet, win, show or place
You can gamble and make some money
But never bet on Thursday
But it is not advisable to gamble on Thursdays as they are challenging
'Cause God's not on its case
Because it seems like Thursdays are not considered important by God
Don't get me wrong
Don't misunderstand me
It's just that Thursday's twice as long as it should be
Thursdays feel twice as long as they actually are
It's twice as long
Thursdays feel very long
Mondays, Tuesdays, weekends, Fridays
Other days of the week like Mondays, Tuesdays, weekends, Fridays
Don't get in my way
Do not pose any challenge or problem like Thursdays do
But Thursday's just a crazy, lazy day
Thursdays are unproductive and challenging
Monday is a blues day
Mondays are depressing
That goes for Tuesday
The same can be said of Tuesdays
Wednesday's just the middle of the week, yeah, hmm
Wednesdays are just a reminder of how far away the weekend is
Friday is just another payday
Fridays are only exciting because of the paycheck
The weekend's just another heyday
The weekend is only exciting because it's a break from work
But Thursday's surreptitiously unique
But Thursdays are uniquely challenging and difficult to deal with
That's why I didn't go to work today
And that is why I didn't go to work today
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: D. KORTCHMAR NILSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jordan Curtis
Here's why I did not go to work today
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Thursday has its own peculiar way of saying, "Hey"
Sometimes Thursday almost makes you want to run away
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Yeah, Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day, let's go have a picnic
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day, hope it doesn't rain
When I'm feeling Thursday, I go and have a drink
If Thursday was a boat, I bet it'd sink
I did on Monday, I tried on Tuesday
Wednesday's simply not my cup of tea
Thank Heaven, it's Friday, thank the Lord for the weekend
Thursday now, that's such a crazy, lazy day
They say Monday's child is full of grace
Tuesday's child is fair of face
Thursday's child has far to go and it's no wonder
When the week becomes a rat race
You can bet, win, show or place
But never bet on Thursday 'cause God's not on its case
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day, don't get me wrong
It's just that Thursday's twice as long as it should be, it's twice as long
Mondays, Tuesdays, weekends, Fridays don't get in my way
But Thursday's just a crazy, lazy day.
Monday is a blues day that goes for Tuesday
Wednesday's just the middle of the week, yeah, mmm
Friday is just another payday, the weekend's just another heyday
But Thursday's surreptitiously unique.
That's why I didn't go to work today
Thursday's got its own peculiar way of saying, "Hey"
Sometimes Thursday makes you want to run away
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Barbara Effros
Def one of my fav lyrics of Harry’s.. 🎶🎹💃🏻
NightwingReturns
God, this man could write a song.
lunaticfit
And sing - jesus!
subg88
One of the very best of Harry Nilsson
Linda Johnson
HARRY NILSSON, I LOVE YOU! You are the gift that keeps on giving..
Jordan Curtis
Here's why I did not go to work today
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Thursday has its own peculiar way of saying, "Hey"
Sometimes Thursday almost makes you want to run away
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Yeah, Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day, let's go have a picnic
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day, hope it doesn't rain
When I'm feeling Thursday, I go and have a drink
If Thursday was a boat, I bet it'd sink
I did on Monday, I tried on Tuesday
Wednesday's simply not my cup of tea
Thank Heaven, it's Friday, thank the Lord for the weekend
Thursday now, that's such a crazy, lazy day
They say Monday's child is full of grace
Tuesday's child is fair of face
Thursday's child has far to go and it's no wonder
When the week becomes a rat race
You can bet, win, show or place
But never bet on Thursday 'cause God's not on its case
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day, don't get me wrong
It's just that Thursday's twice as long as it should be, it's twice as long
Mondays, Tuesdays, weekends, Fridays don't get in my way
But Thursday's just a crazy, lazy day.
Monday is a blues day that goes for Tuesday
Wednesday's just the middle of the week, yeah, mmm
Friday is just another payday, the weekend's just another heyday
But Thursday's surreptitiously unique.
That's why I didn't go to work today
Thursday's got its own peculiar way of saying, "Hey"
Sometimes Thursday makes you want to run away
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Thursday's such a crazy, lazy day
Ross Harris
16 to 62.....this is just as good, thanks Harry🥳
Cleoldbagtra Allsorts
So chill!
Pol O'Gallan
Thursdays back again 🌫☄️
Mirror Time
Hello "official Harry Nilsson channel" THIS SONG is actually called (Thursday or, Here's Why I Did Not Go to Work Today). That's the way Harry wrote it. Please fix. Thanks. And yes. Masterpiece of a tune by a really cool cat. Love ya Harry!