these days
Jackson Browne David Lindley Lyrics
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I don't do that much talking these days
These days,
These days I seem to think a lot
About the things that I forgot to do
For you
And all the times I had the chance to
It's so hard to risk another these days
These days,
Now if I seem to be afraid
To live the life I have made in song
Well it's just that I've been losing so long
I'll keep on moving
Things are bound to be improving these days
These days,
These days I sit on corner stones
And count the time in quarter tones to ten, my friend
Don't confront me with my failures
I had not forgotten them
The song "These Days" by Jackson Browne and David Lindley is a melancholic piece about regret and lost opportunities. The singer speaks of his present state of being, which is one of quiet contemplation, where he spends a lot of time thinking about the things he should have done for a loved one but failed to do so. The chorus "These Days" is the constant reminder of what's gone and the weight of missed opportunities.
The singer speaks about having a lover but finds it difficult to risk being in love again. He's afraid of living life to the fullest and failing yet again. He speaks of his life in song, and this can be interpreted in two ways - first, that he is a songwriter, and second, that he sees his life as a song: a story with a beginning, middle, and an end. By the end of the song, the singer talks about finding hope, and he believes that things are bound to be improving even though he's been losing for so long. The final line, "Don't confront me with my failures; I had not forgotten them," shows that the singer is aware of his shortcomings, and he carries them with him always.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I've been out walking
I've been physically moving around, exploring the outdoors
I don't do that much talking these days
I'm not socializing or communicating as much lately
These days,
Recently, currently
These days I seem to think a lot
I'm doing a lot of introspection and contemplating
About the things that I forgot to do
I'm regretting not completing certain actions in the past
For you
For someone else, for the benefit of another person
And all the times I had the chance to
I'm reflecting on missed opportunities
And I had a lover
I used to have a romantic partner
It's so hard to risk another these days
Currently, it's difficult for me to take a chance on another relationship
These days,
Recently, currently
Now if I seem to be afraid
If I appear to be scared
To live the life I have made in song
To live out the lifestyle I've portrayed in my music
Well it's just that I've been losing so long
I've been experiencing defeat and disappointment for a prolonged period of time
I'll keep on moving
I'll continue moving forward, proceeding with my life
Things are bound to be improving these days
My current circumstances will likely get better
These days,
Recently, currently
These days I sit on corner stones
I spend my time sitting on street corners
And count the time in quarter tones to ten, my friend
I'm aimlessly passing time, keeping track of the minutes and seconds as they drag on
Don't confront me with my failures
Please don't remind me of the areas where I fell short
I had not forgotten them
I'm aware of my past mistakes and regrets
Lyrics © Jackson Browne/Swallow Turn Music/Night Kitchen Music/Open Window Music
Written by: BILLY KELLY, CARL SIRACUSE, CHRIS HANLON, FRAN BROZENA, JERRY HLUDZIK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind