After recording and self-releasing two EPs in 2002, Newsom was signed to the independent label Drag City. Her debut album, The Milk-Eyed Mender, was released in 2004 to critical acclaim and garnered Newsom an underground following. She would receive wider exposure with the release of Ys (2006), which charted at number 134 on the Billboard 200.
She released two further albums: Have One on Me (2010) and Divers (2015), the latter of which outsold all of her previous albums. Newsom has been noted by critics for her unique musical style, sometimes characterized as psychedelic folk, and for her prominent use of harp instrumentation. She has also appeared as an actress with roles in the television series Portlandia and in the 2014 film Inherent Vice.
On a Good Day
Joanna Newsom Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a good day you can see the end from here
But I won't turn back now though the way is clear
I will stay for the remainder
I saw a life and I called it mine
I saw it drawn so sweet and fine
And I had begun to fill in all the lines
Our nature does not change by will
In the winter 'round the ruined mill
The creek is lying flat and still
It is water though it's frozen
So, across the years and miles and through
On a good day you can feel my love for you
Will you leave me be so that we can stay true
To the path that you have chosen?
The opening lines of Joanna Newsom's "On a Good Day" suggest that the end is near, and we can see it from a particular perspective. It is not necessarily that things are falling apart or the world is coming to an end, but that an era or chapter is concluding. Despite the approaching end, the singer of the song is resolved to press on because the way ahead is clear. The song's focus is on the enduring nature of the journey and the importance of staying the course.
The second verse shifts to a reflection on life and its meaning. The singer has seen a life and claimed it as their own, ready to fill in all the details and give it a name. However, the beauty of life is also fragile, so we must cherish it and hold on tight. The singer acknowledges that their nature is not going to change by will; they will be who they are in any season. The frozen creek by the ruined mill is still water, a reminder of the constancy of nature, even in the face of destruction.
The song's final lines acknowledge the miles and years that may lay between the singer and their love, but on a good day, they can feel the love they have for them. They ask that they be left alone to remain true to their chosen path. The song ends, leaving the listener with the sense that the journey might be challenging, the end may be near or far, but the love that we have will endure.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey hey hey, the end is near
Despite the end approaching, I still hold on
On a good day you can see the end from here
Sometimes when things are going well, we can see the end coming
But I won't turn back now though the way is clear
Even when the path is clear, I won't give up on what I believe in
I will stay for the remainder
I will continue on until the end
I saw a life and I called it mine
I imagined a life and claimed it as my own
I saw it drawn so sweet and fine
It was a beautiful picture that I had in my mind
And I had begun to fill in all the lines
I started to create the details and make it my reality
Right down to what we'd name her
I even thought of a name for this life I imagined
Our nature does not change by will
We can't change our basic instincts just by wanting to
In the winter 'round the ruined mill
Even in the bleak winter around the abandoned mill
The creek is lying flat and still
The frozen creek still exists, even if it's not actively flowing
It is water though it's frozen
It's still made of the same substance, even if it's no longer in its liquid form
So, across the years and miles and through
Despite the distance and time that may separate us
On a good day you can feel my love for you
Sometimes on a good day, you may still feel my love for you
Will you leave me be so that we can stay true
Please don't interfere with my beliefs so that we can both remain faithful to our paths
To the path that you have chosen?
Are you willing to respect the path that I've chosen to follow?
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joanna Newsom
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind