Hayward was born in Dean Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England, and educated at Shrivenham School in Berkshire and the Commonweal School in Swindon. He was playing in several bands as early as age 15 when he bought his Gibson 335, a guitar that appears on nearly all of his records throughout his career, and a Vox AC30 amplifier. All previous guitars were "unsatisfactory" and required modification. He performed with local Swindon groups in clubs and dance halls playing mostly Buddy Holly songs. One of Hayward's early groups was All Things Bright, which opened for The Hollies and Brian Poole and the Tremeloes. At age 17, he signed an eight-year publishing contract as a songwriter with the skiffle artist and record producer Lonnie Donegan, a move Hayward later regretted, as it meant the rights to all his songs written before 1974 would always be owned by Donegan's Tyler Music. In 1965 he answered an advertisement in Melody Maker and auditioned as guitarist for Marty Wilde and he went on to work with Wilde and his wife in The Wilde Three.
For the most part, Hayward has used a red Gibson ES-335, though he also uses other guitars in both performing and recording, including a 1955 Martin D-28 "Dreadnought", a James Olson six-string acoustic, a black Guild acoustic, a Squier Stratocaster (essentially an inexpensive Fender Stratocaster, as Squier is a subsidiary of Fender), a Fender Telecaster, a blonde Guild 12-string acoustic (tuned to "open C" for "Question"), and in 1967 a black Gibson Les Paul. Between 1965 and 1968, he was without his Gibson 335 and relied on other instruments, most notably a 1964 Fender Telecaster and a hand-built 12-string guitar he had renovated for Donegan (he eventually bought this guitar from Donegan's widow). However, in an interview included on the Lovely to See You concert DVD (2005), Hayward says the 1963 Gibson 335 has been with him since 1967. Recently, he has played a Collings D3 on stage and on recordings. Among other instruments, Hayward also played mandolin on A Question of Balance and sitar on In Search of the Lost Chord.
Written at the end of one love affair and the beginning of another, the song "Nights in White Satin" was, according to Hayward, "in adoration of all women". Hayward married model Ann Marie Guirron on 19 December 1970. His daughter Doremi, who sings on the track "Raised on Love" on Hayward's 1977 album Songwriter, was born on 3 December 1972.
In 2013, Hayward spoke of his learning Transcendental Meditation in 1967, along with other members of the Moody Blues.
Lazy Afternoon
Justin Hayward Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a lazy afternoon
And the quiet shadows move in the stillness
Is there still place for me,
In a corner of your heart
In the pages of a book you were reading
‘Cause I remember the days when
What on earth is going on with you?
Other restless spirits cry
For the dreams that pass them by
We were mortal, you and I
We were going down
As I loved you then I knew
I had lost you, I’ve lost you
Like the crystal mountain dew,
In the sunshine
‘Cause I remember the days when
You swore we would always be true
What on earth am I supposed to do?
I would’ve given you the world to stay
If I had only known what I know today
As the sweet satins are great
Through the shifting summer haze
Do you think about the days that have left us?
Every secret, every crime, every word and every line
Will be written for all time and forever
I will remember the days when
You swore we would always be true
What on earth is going on with you?
The lyrics of Justin Hayward's "Lazy Afternoon" speak about a person's longing for someone who was once the love of their life. The singer wants to know if there is still a place for them in the heart of this person, who they believe has moved on. They recall the days when they were sure of each other's love, but now they feel lost and alone.
The singer describes the passing of time on a lazy afternoon, as the sun fades and shadows move in. They wonder if the person they once loved is still reading the book they were reading before or if they have moved on to something else. The singer remembers the days when they believed in their love, but now they are confused and do not know where they stand.
The lyrics also talk about the mortality of life and how time moves on quickly. The singer mentions other restless spirits who cry for the dreams that pass them by, suggesting that they too have lost something they once cherished. The singer knows they have lost the person they loved like crystal mountain dew in the sunshine, and they ask what on earth they are supposed to do now. They express their willingness to have given everything to stay with the person they loved, but now they feel like they have lost everything.
Line by Line Meaning
As the sun begins to fade
With the setting of the sun as the backdrop, the song begins to describe a feeling of loss and affectionate longing.
On a lazy afternoon
On this seemingly tranquil and leisurely afternoon, the singer is feeling a mix of emotions that are anything but relaxed.
And the quiet shadows move in the stillness
As the day approaches its end, the singer feels a sense of creeping obscurity and melancholy.
Is there still place for me,
The singer wonders whether there is still room for him in the life of the person he is addressing.
In a corner of your heart
A metaphorical expression indicating that the person he is addressing once had feelings for him, which he hopes are still there.
In the pages of a book you were reading
Another metaphorical expression that hints that the singer's memories of their loving relationship are perhaps being brushed aside like a bookmarked book left unread.
‘Cause I remember the days when
The singer remembers how things once were, and this memory produces a sense of longing for the past.
You said we would always be true
The person he once loved promised eternal loyalty, but that promise has seemingly been broken.
What on earth is going on with you?
The singer is confused and doesn't understand why the person he once loved has seemingly moved on.
Other restless spirits cry
The singer recognizes that he is not alone in his sadness, as others also experience unrequited love, dreams that don't come true, and feelings of loss and inadequacy.
For the dreams that pass them by
Like many others, the singer recognizes that dreams may not always come true, and that time and circumstance can cause people to grow apart.
We were mortal, you and I
The singer acknowledges the reality of mortality and the limited time humans have to experience the intensity of love and passion.
We were going down
This line could either mean that their relationship was declining or that they are simply descending towards the end of their time on this earth.
As I loved you then I knew
The singer is nostalgic for the past and reflecting on how his feelings for this person were real and sincere.
I had lost you, I’ve lost you
The singer has come to realize that he has lost the person he once loved, and is not sure if there's any way to get them back.
Like the crystal mountain dew,
This line could either mirror how the person he once loved was fresh and clean like dew or how their relationship was clear like clean dew, but now tainted.
In the sunshine
This line could imply that the person he once loved was his sunshine, or that the clarity and freshness of their love existed in a time when the sun shone brightly.
‘Cause I remember the days when
Again, the singer is reflecting on what once was and remembering fondly how things used to be.
You swore we would always be true
The person he once loved made a promise of eternal love, but that promise seemingly wasn't kept.
What on earth am I supposed to do?
The singer is confused and doesn't know how to move forward with the knowledge that the person he once loved may no longer feel the same way.
I would’ve given you the world to stay
The singer is expressing how much he would have done to try and keep the relationship going and avoid the pain of losing the person he loved.
If I had only known what I know today
Hindsight allows the singer to consider what he could have done differently to prevent the loss he now feels.
As the sweet satins are great
This line could either describe the comfort the person he once loved brought to his life or the false promises they made that are now rotting away.
Through the shifting summer haze
The summer haze represents the changes of time, while the sweet satin represents the sweetness they shared fading away.
Do you think about the days that have left us?
The singer is questioning whether the person he once loved is also haunted by the memories of what once was but is now lost.
Every secret, every crime, every word and every line
All the things they kept hidden, all the things they did wrong, and every conversation they had together are now memories that will be forever etched in their minds.
Will be written for all time and forever
Memories tend to last forever, the singer suggests that all they did during their lives together will be forever engraved.
I will remember the days when
The song ends with a repetition of this line, highlighting the singer's continued fixation on the past and the memories shared with the person he once loved.
You swore we would always be true
Again, this line is repeated, underscoring the sense of betrayal and loss experienced by the singer.
What on earth is going on with you?
The song ends with the same line where it began, suggesting that the singer is still feeling bewildered and confused by the changes he has experienced in his relationship with the person he once loved.
Lyrics © Fintage House Publishing
Written by: JUSTIN HAYWARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ResearchSoundLab
As the sun begins to fade
On a lazy afternoon
And the quiet shadows move in the stillness
Is there still place for me,
In a corner of your heart
In the pages of a book you were reading
‘Cause I remember the days when
You said we would always be true
What on earth is going on with you?
Other restless spirits cry
For the dreams that pass them by
We were mortal, you and I
We were going down
As I loved you then I knew
I had lost you, I’ve lost you
Like the crystal mountain dew,
In the sunshine
‘Cause I remember the days when
You swore we would always be true
What on earth am I supposed to do?
I would’ve given you the world to stay
If I had only known what I know today
As the sweet satins are great
Through the shifting summer haze
Do you think about the days that have left us?
Every secret, every crime, every word and every line
Will be written for all time and forever
I will remember the days when
You swore we would always be true
What on earth is going on with you?
~ Mr. Hayward, an Englishman
Sharon Kelley
Justin is a truly magical man. He has written some lovely songs. His voice truly enchants me. I guess I'm REALLY hooked on Justin's music AND his beauty.
Bruce Lyons
One of our greatest songwriters and singers of all time!
Graham Sutherland
can't stop playing it, one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard
Cafe Esoterica Radio Hostess Shawn Cohen
Just saw Justin on his solo tour on May 27th in Bristol, England and it was just marvelous, he's still got it, sang his heart out...just adore him! xxx <3
Playback007able
Cafe Esoterica Radio Hostess Shawn Cohen sounds like a surreal moment and place when time slowed down to greet you...
Hylke Vanderzee
Words fail. Also this album is so fantastic, so emotional. Especially the ballads are heartwarming. Thanks for this eternal music.
lcr1955
This song totally melts my heart.........
Gary Blackman
Another lovely song from an incredible artist.
HELENA V
Very Nice song. Hes still got it. Poetry in a song. I liked him in the sixties....esp. "Nights in White Satin." A Beautiful song indeed.
Patricia Ferrigno
I'll be seeing Justin for my third time in my lifetime (I'm sixty now) in March with the Moody Blues. I adore his music!