These Days
Johnny Clegg / Savuka Lyrics
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What happened to the diamonds in your eyes,
What happened to the hunger for the day's chase?
What happened to the electric smile
That danced across your face
We used to talk about changing the world
Now all you want to do is change your name
To the empty heart of these days.
We used to talk so deep into the night
You had the heart of a wild horse running
You bared your soul to me
And we both knew these days were coming
These days, blood in the heavens
These days, fire and ice
These days, burning streets and visions
These days, of the loveless child
Yashimbawula!
You were the reason I came here
You will always be the one I am looking for
I can't stand to see the way
These days are pushing you against the wall
Got to get up, got to move out
Face the tide beyond the door
Outside there's a whole world changing
We can't stand here, trapped inside
Let's step out and test the weather
Hang on baby, it's going to ge a rough ride through'
These days, searching for a vision
These days, gun metal blue
These days, changing my religion
These days, heartless and cruel
Say the words and fill my sails
I will love you through the coming gale
We'll get through the darkest heart of these days
"it's killing time"
Who will watch the watchers?
Who will keep the keepers?
Who will love the lovers, could you?
These days, blood in the heavens
These days, fire and ice
These days, burning streets and visions
These days, of the loveless child
The song 'These Days' by Johnny Clegg is a powerful commentary on the unrest and turmoil of the world, and encourages people to not give in to despair and instead fight against the chaos. The first verse addresses a person who has lost their spark and drive, someone who has gone from being full of energy and ambition to feeling trapped and hopeless. This sense of despair and disillusionment is contrasted with the memories of the past, where conversations were deep and full of potential, and where the future seemed limitless. The chorus highlights the violence and destruction that is rampant in the world, and serves as a reminder of the harsh realities that need to be faced.
The second verse is a call to action, and highlights the need to act and resist the negative forces that surround us. It implores the listener to not be passive, but to get up and take charge of their own lives, and to resist being pushed down by the chaos of the world. The bridge speaks to the idea of love and connection, and highlights the importance of supporting and caring for one another through the difficulties and challenges of life. The song ends with a powerful call-to-action, questioning who will be the ones to stand up and fight against the tide of violence and despair in the world.
Overall, 'These Days' is a powerful protest song that encourages listeners to not give in to despair or hopelessness, but to instead take action and fight for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
What happened to the diamonds in your eyes,
What happened to the sparkle in your eyes?
What happened to the hunger for the day's chase?
What happened to your drive and ambition?
What happened to the electric smile
That danced across your face?
What happened to your joy and happiness?
We used to talk about changing the world
Now all you want to do is change your name
We used to be passionate about making a difference, but now you just want to run away from everything.
Come on baby don't surrender now
To the empty heart of these days.
Don't give up and let the emptiness of these days consume you.
We used to talk so deep into the night
You had the heart of a wild horse running
You bared your soul to me
And we both knew these days were coming
We used to have deep conversations late into the night, and you were passionate and free-spirited. We both knew that harder times were coming.
These days, blood in the heavens
These days, fire and ice
These days, burning streets and visions
These days, of the loveless child
These days are filled with pain, turmoil, and hopelessness for many people.
You were the reason I came here
You will always be the one I am looking for
You were my reason for coming here, and I will always cherish you.
I can't stand to see the way
These days are pushing you against the wall
I hate seeing how these times are making you feel trapped and helpless.
Got to get up, got to move out
Face the tide beyond the door
We need to get up and leave this behind, and face whatever comes next.
Outside there's a whole world changing
We can't stand here, trapped inside
The world is constantly evolving and moving forward. We can't stay stuck in this place forever.
Let's step out and test the weather
Hang on baby, it's going to ge a rough ride through'
Let's take a chance and see what's out there, but hold on tight because it's not going to be easy.
These days, searching for a vision
These days, gun metal blue
These days, changing my religion
These days, heartless and cruel
These days are marked by struggles to find direction, sadness, and heartlessness.
Say the words and fill my sails
I will love you through the coming gale
We'll get through the darkest heart of these days
If you support me and fill me with love, we can get through the toughest of times together.
"it's killing time"
Who will watch the watchers?
Who will keep the keepers?
Who will love the lovers, could you?
These harsh times require us to question who's in charge, who's keeping us safe, and who's caring for us.
These days, blood in the heavens
These days, fire and ice
These days, burning streets and visions
These days, of the loveless child
Again, these times are filled with pain, chaos, and a sense of hopelessness.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONATHAN PAUL CLEGG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind