She is also the vocal part on Little Jackie, a project she does together with Adam Pallin.
Visit Imani Coppola Official Website:
http://www.imanicoppola.net/
these days
Imani Coppola Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and ended up in a park where I stayed until it turned dark
My eyes looked to the sky where I focused on the space between the stars
Cause it's what makes them beautiful, and I'm feelin' empty
Empty as the gas tank of the car on the side of the road
and just a little hopeless like the people tryin' to wave down some help
Why's a friend so hard to come by these days?
You got a whole lot of people tellin' you which way to go and you go
And you know and you know it's all wrong, popcorn and politics
Armed guards and naked chicks don't mix
The melting pot is boiling over these days
I took a walk yesterday not knowing where I was goin'
not knowin' why I was movin', not knowin' what I was doin'
but tryin' to walk with some purpose, put a little meaning in my stride,
Put a little meaning in my life, why ask why
I look for answers in the sky and if the tree's could only talk to me
I'd know a lot more than I did before, than I did before
Than I did before these days
These days you got everything, you got ten thousand songs you can sing
You got a whole lot of people, tellin' you which way to go and you go
And you know and you know it's all wrong, popcorn and politics
Armed guards and naked chicks don't mix
The melting pot is boiling over these days
These days, these days, these days, these days, these days, these days
I took a walk yesterday not knowin' where I was goin'
It reminded me of how free I am
But what a slave I am to my own discontent
These days you got everything, you got ten thousand songs you can sing
You got a whole lot of people tellin' you which way to go and you go
And you know and you know it's all wrong, popcorn and politics
Armed guards and naked chicks don't mix
The melting pot is boiling over these days
These lyrics describe the feeling of being lost and searching for meaning in life. The singer takes a walk without knowing where they are going but ends up in a park. Looking up at the sky, they reflect on the beauty in the space between the stars and the emptiness they feel inside. The metaphor of an empty gas tank on the side of the road and the hopeless people trying to wave down help further emphasizes the singer's feeling of being lost and alone. The singer wonders why it's so hard to find a friend these days, suggesting that despite having everything we need in terms of material possessions and technologies, we still lack meaningful human connections.
The chorus repeats the idea that we have everything we need, including ten thousand songs to sing, but we are being told which way to go and it's all wrong. The combination of popcorn and politics and armed guards and naked chicks is an odd mix that highlights the current state of society. The melting pot is boiling over, suggesting that things are reaching a boiling point and change is necessary.
The final verse notes how the walk reminded the singer of how free they are yet also how much of a slave they are to their own discontent. This line suggests that we have the freedom to search for meaning and purpose but we often get in our own way with negative thoughts and feelings.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the current state of society, suggesting that despite having everything we need, we are still lost and searching for meaning, and that change is necessary.
Line by Line Meaning
I took a walk yesterday not knowin' where I was goin'
I wandered aimlessly without a destination.
and ended up in a park where I stayed until it turned dark
I found myself in a park and remained there until nightfall.
My eyes looked to the sky where I focused on the space between the stars
I gazed at the stars and appreciated the gaps between them.
Cause it's what makes them beautiful, and I'm feelin' empty
I recognize that the same emptiness that I feel is what makes the stars beautiful.
Empty as the gas tank of the car on the side of the road
I feel just as depleted as a stranded car on the side of the road with an empty gas tank.
and just a little hopeless like the people tryin' to wave down some help
My situation feels hopeless, like the people trying to flag down help on the side of the road.
Why's a friend so hard to come by these days?
I wonder why it's difficult to find true friends nowadays.
These days you got everything, you got ten thousand songs you can sing
In modern times, we have access to everything, including a multitude of songs to sing.
You got a whole lot of people tellin' you which way to go and you go
There are numerous people who attempt to direct your path, and you may follow them.
And you know and you know it's all wrong, popcorn and politics
Despite knowing that it's incorrect, people are preoccupied with trivial entertainment and politics.
Armed guards and naked chicks don't mix
It's inappropriate and problematic to have a combination of armed guards and nude women.
The melting pot is boiling over these days
There is a lot of tension and turmoil in society lately.
I took a walk yesterday not knowing where I was goin'
I walked without a destination and without a purpose.
not knowin' why I was movin', not knowin' what I was doin'
I didn't know why I was walking or what I was trying to achieve.
but tryin' to walk with some purpose, put a little meaning in my stride,
Despite the confusion, I attempted to walk with a sense of purpose and significance.
Put a little meaning in my life, why ask why
I strive to add meaning to my life, even when it may not make sense.
I look for answers in the sky and if the tree's could only talk to me
I search for answers in the natural world, hoping for some kind of guidance or insight.
I'd know a lot more than I did before, than I did before
If only the trees were capable of communicating, I believe I could gain a lot of knowledge and understanding.
Than I did before these days
In comparison to the present day, I would have much more knowledge if the trees could speak to me.
It reminded me of how free I am
The walk served as a reminder of the liberty and freedom that I possess.
But what a slave I am to my own discontent
Despite my freedom and privilege, I'm still in bondage to my own dissatisfaction and negative thoughts.
These days, these days, these days, these days, these days, these days
Repeated acknowledgment that the themes mentioned throughout the song relate to the current day and age.
Contributed by Molly B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.