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.
day late and a dollar short
Ian Gillan Lyrics
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I wanted to know what I was like inside
In the morning every day of my life
Face in my mirror seems so surprised
And I dance by the light of the silvery moon
Day late and a dollar short
Wild dreams and empty thoughts
Going through your head
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
Naked dancers chanting in the night
Day late and a dollar short
Never was and I never will be what you're gonna be
A day late and a dollar short it's what my momma said
Wild dreams and empty thoughts
Going through your head
Day late and a dollar short
Dream on, dream on
You're dreamin'
Day late and a dollar short
Momma said
Get back to your bed
Day late and a dollar short
It's what she said to me
The lyrics to Ian Gillan's song "Day Late and a Dollar Short" are reflective of a person who is struggling with their own identity and place in life. In the first verse, the singer describes how they attempted to eat themselves alive in an effort to understand what they were like on the inside. This extreme act speaks to their level of desperation to find meaning and purpose in their life.
The second verse describes another attempt to find meaning through burning oneself alive. However, the "voice of reason" whispers in the singer's ear, indicating a level of internal conflict between their desire for self-destruction and their need for self-preservation. Additionally, the mention of "naked dancers chanting in the night" suggests a possible connection between the singer's internal struggle and external pressures or influences.
The chorus, "day late and a dollar short", repeated throughout the song, suggests a feeling of inadequacy or failure. This is underscored by the lyrics, "never was and I never will be what you're gonna be," indicating that the singer feels inferior to others in some way. Despite this, there is still a sense of hopefulness in the lyrics, as evidenced by the repeated reference to dreaming.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a struggle with identity, purpose, and self-worth. The singer is striving to find meaning, but is coming up short, feeling like they are constantly one step behind others and lacking in some way.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I tried to eat myself alive
I wanted to explore my inner self, to discover what I was truly made of
I wanted to know what I was like inside
I had a deep desire to understand my own nature and character
In the morning every day of my life
I wake up every day and face myself in the mirror, trying to understand who I am
Face in my mirror seems so surprised
Every time I look at myself, I'm surprised by what I see, and I'm never quite sure who I am
And I dance by the light of the silvery moon
I find solace and comfort in the beauty of nature, and often dance alone in the moonlight
Day late and a dollar short
I always seem to be one step behind, struggling to keep up with the rest of the world
That's what my momma said
My mother always reminds me of my shortcomings and my failures
Wild dreams and empty thoughts
I'm full of grand ideas and fantasies, but lack the ability to turn them into reality
Going through your head
I'm constantly plagued by thoughts that I can't seem to escape or control
Once I tried to set myself on fire
At one point, I was consumed by my desire and passion, and was willing to risk everything for my dreams
I was burning with desire
My ambitions and goals left me feeling like I was on fire, unable to quench my thirst for success
Voice of reason whispers in my ear
There's a small part of me that knows I need to be more practical and think logically, but it's often drowned out by my passion
I see the light but I cannot hear
I know what I need to do to succeed, but I struggle to make it happen
Naked dancers chanting in the night
My mind is often filled with images of beauty and sensuality, and I'm constantly seeking out new experiences and pleasures
Never was and I never will be what you're gonna be
I'm not like the rest of the world, and I never will be. I have my own path to follow
Dream on, dream on
Despite my struggles and failures, I continue to dream and never give up on my goals
Momma said
My mother's voice is always in my head, reminding me of my flaws and shortcomings
Get back to your bed
Even when I'm struggling, my mother believes that sleep and rest will help me overcome my challenges
It's what she said to me
My mother's words and advice are a constant presence in my life, and I can't escape them
Contributed by Chloe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.