Shurtleff now is active for Amnesty.
I Live One Day at a Time
Jeffrey Shurtleff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I live one day at a time
I dream one dream at a time
Yesterday's dead, and tomorrow is blind
And I live one day at a time.
Bet you're surprised to see me back at home,
You don't know how I miss you when you're gone
It never crossed my mind
'cause I live one day at a time.
I live one day at a time
I dream one dream at a time
Yesterday's dead, and tomorrow is blind
And I live one day at a time.
There's a swallow flyin' across a cloudy sky
Searchin' for a patch of sun so high
Don't ask how long I have to follow him,
Perhaps I won't in time
But I live one day at a time.
I live one day at a time
I dream one dream at a time
Yesterday's dead, and tomorrow is blind
And I live one day at a time.
And I live one day at a time.
The lyrics of Jeffrey Shurtleff and Joan Baez's song "One Day at a Time" captures the essence of living in the moment and not worrying too much about the future or the past. The song is all about taking things slowly and focusing on what matters most, which is the present. The opening line of the song, "I live one day at a time," sets the tone for the rest of the song. It's a declaration of sorts, a proclamation that the songwriter isn't going to be rushing through life, but rather, taking it one day at a time.
The second line, "I dream one dream at a time," hints at the idea that even though the songwriter is focusing on the present, they still have dreams and aspirations they are working towards. But even those dreams are being tackled one at a time, not all at once. The third and fourth line, "Yesterday's dead, and tomorrow is blind," further emphasizes the theme of living in the moment. The past is gone, and the future is uncertain, so it's best to make the most of the present.
The rest of the song talks about the songwriter coming back home and how much they missed their loved one. But they don't know how long they will stay or when they will have to leave again. However, that doesn't matter because they are living one day at a time. The last two lines of the song, "There's a swallow flyin' across a cloudy sky/ Searchin' for a patch of sun so high" could be interpreted in different ways, but it can be seen as a metaphor for the idea of searching for happiness and finding it in the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
I live one day at a time
I focus on the present moment and take each day as it comes
I dream one dream at a time
I don't get caught up in grandiose plans or ambitions, but instead focus on a single goal
Yesterday's dead, and tomorrow is blind
The past is gone and cannot be changed, and the future is uncertain and unpredictable
And I live one day at a time.
Therefore, I choose to live in the moment and make the most of each day
Bet you're surprised to see me back at home,
You may not have expected me to return so soon
You don't know how I miss you when you're gone
I feel a strong absence and longing when you are not here
Don't ask how long I plan to stay
I cannot give you a definite answer to that question
It never crossed my mind
I haven't thought about it, or I'm not willing to share my thoughts on the matter
'cause I live one day at a time.
As previously stated, I choose to focus on the present moment and not worry about the future
There's a swallow flyin' across a cloudy sky
An observation of a bird in flight
Searchin' for a patch of sun so high
The bird is seeking warmth or light
Don't ask how long I have to follow him,
I don't know how long I will continue to watch the bird
Perhaps I won't in time
It's possible that I will lose sight of the bird, or that it will fly away
But I live one day at a time.
Despite the uncertainty, I choose to stay present and focused on each moment as it comes
And I live one day at a time.
Reiteration of the main message - living in the present moment
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind