Gillan was born in Hounslow, Middlesex, England. He joined the band Deep Purple in 1969. In 1970, he sang the part of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. After leaving Deep Purple in 1973, he went into brief retirement before forming the Ian Gillan Band. The early band sound had a distinct jazz-rock aspect which proved unpopular and was replaced by a more high powered hard rock sound as Gillan reformed the lineup and shortened the groups name to Gillan. With the release of Mr. Universe Ian Gillan was back in the UK charts and through several more line up changes released a string of hit singles and successful albums including Glory Road, Future Shock, Double Trouble, and finally Magic.
Then he announced the band would fold as he needed to rest his damaged vocal cords. In 1983 he joined Black Sabbath to record the Born Again album before rejoining a reunited Deep Purple shortly after completing the Born Again tour in early 1984. He left Purple again in 1989, but rejoined for good in 1992. He remains in the band today.
Gillan is now working on a project to document his 40-year career, tentatively called Gillan's Inn. Tony Iommi, Jeff Healey, various members of Deep Purple and many others will be featured on this 2006 DVD project.
A Day Late And A Dollar Short
Ian Gillan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i wanted to know what i was like inside
in the morning every day of my life
face in my mirror seems so surprised
once i tried to set myself on fire
i was burning with desire
voice of reason whispers in my ear
i see the light but i cannot hear
a day late and a dollar short that's what she said to me
never was and i never will be what you're going to be
a day late and a dollar short it's what my momma said
wild dreams and empty thoughts going through your head
a day late and a dollar short
a day late and a dollar short
you're dreaming
a day late and a dollar short
momma said get back to your bed
a day late and a dollar short
it's what she said to me
The lyrics of Ian Gillan's "A Day Late and a Dollar Short" depict the struggles of an individual in search of self-discovery, who has experimented with self-harm and intense desires. The opening line "once I tried to eat myself alive" may be interpreted as a metaphor for the singer's inability to understand their inner self, leading to extreme actions. The following lines "face in my mirror seems so surprised" suggest that the singer is startled by their own reflection, indicating a lack of self-awareness.
In the chorus, the lyrics "a day late and a dollar short" are a recurring theme, further emphasizing the singer's lack of fulfillment in their life. The line "never was and I never will be what you're going to be" conveys a sense of inadequacy, as the singer compares themselves to others and feels like they fall short. The next line, "wild dreams and empty thoughts going through your head," highlights the singer's restless and unfulfilled state of mind.
Towards the end of the song, the lyrics "naked dancers chanting in the night" depict a seemingly surreal and hallucinatory experience, indicating the singer's detachment from reality. Ultimately, the song conveys a sense of inner turmoil, restlessness, and the search for meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
once i tried to eat myself alive
I attempted self destruction out of curiosity to discover my inner self.
i wanted to know what i was like inside
I had a great urge and desire to explore my inner self.
in the morning every day of my life
I felt surprised and unusual about my reflection every morning.
face in my mirror seems so surprised
I found my own reflection as a surprising and strange one.
once i tried to set myself on fire
I had a strong desire to destroy myself completely.
i was burning with desire
I felt a deep passion within me for something I couldn't understand or explain.
voice of reason whispers in my ear
Despite my strong urge, my rational mind and conscience were trying to caution me.
i see the light but i cannot hear
I became aware of something significant but was not able to listen to its meaning.
naked dancers chanting in the night
I witnessed the bare truth and indecency of something mysterious and alluring.
a day late and a dollar short that's what she said to me
She told me that it's too little too late, no use crying over spilt milk.
never was and i never will be what you're going to be
I am not and never will be like someone else, no matter how much I try.
a day late and a dollar short it's what my momma said
My mother warned me against my irrelevant fantasies and ambitions.
wild dreams and empty thoughts going through your head
My mind was filled with vague and meaningless fantasies and hopes.
a day late and a dollar short
I arrived too late or was inadequately prepared for a certain situation.
you're dreaming
You are being unrealistic or foolish.
momma said get back to your bed
My mother wanted me to stop chasing delusions and accept reality.
it's what she said to me
It was her advice and warning to me about being impractical.
Contributed by Elena T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.