these days
Jackson Browne & Warren Zevon Lyrics

Jackson Browne & Warren Zevon's song These Days is a melancholic and reflective piece about lost opportunities, fear, and resignation. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song. By saying he's been "out walking" and doesn't "do that much talking", the singer implies that he's become introspective and withdrawn, preferring his own thoughts to human interaction. He confesses that he "seems to think a lot about the things he's forgotten to do" and "all the times he had the chance to". These lines hint at a sense of regret and missed opportunities, as the singer reflects on what he could have done differently.

The middle verse of the song introduces the theme of love and relationships. The singer mentions a lover but is "afraid to risk another of these days". The repetition of "these days" suggests that the singer is living in the present moment but is burdened by his past experiences. He admits he's "been losing for so long" indicating that he's become accustomed to failure, and that it has affected his ability to open himself up to new experiences. However, the final verse of the song offers a glimmer of hope. The singer resolves to "keep moving on", knowing that things are bound to improve one of these days. He is apprehensive about being confronted with his failures, but he doesn't deny them.