Kathryn Williams (born in 1974 in Liverpool, England) is a singer-songwrite… Read Full Bio ↴Kathryn Williams (born in 1974 in Liverpool, England) is a singer-songwriter based in Newcastle, England, whose work is characterised by delicate vocals and acoustic instruments.

Her influences are varied, including Nina Simone, Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Simon and Garfunkel, and Velvet Underground. She has sung with Badmarsh & Shri album and worked with Twisted Nerve artist Pedro.

Her album, Leave to Remain, was greeted with critical acclaim, and her earlier Little Black Numbers was nominated for a Grammy award.

In 2010 Williams collaborated with former Delicate Vomit member Anna Spencer as The Crayonettes on the album Playing Out - Songs for Children and Robots

In 2012 she launched a new project called 'The Pond.'
A trio with Simon Edwards and Ginny Clee, the project mixed by Portishead’s Adrian Utley.

When
Kathryn Williams Lyrics

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When all the nights have come
When all the day time goes
When all the work is done what then

When your lovers come
When your love has gone
When a touch comes down on who it's meant to rest on

We've saved for a time
That may not come
Working for names above doors
To get everything done
We're flapping about for a week in the sun

Is there someone there?
A click on the line
Are you playing a game?
For a call I'll be waiting

When you sat at your table
When you drank yourself silly
Just to forget that in the week they own your energies

We've saved for a time
That may not come
Working for names above doors
To get everything done
We're flapping around for a week in the sun

Da dad a dada dad a dad a dad a da
Down down down down

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kathryn Williams's song "When" seem to be a contemplation of life's purpose, especially in the face of hard work and loss. It starts off asking what happens when all the usual markers of time and activity, such as night and work, are done or gone. It then moves on to consider the impact of lovers coming and going, and the transient nature of touch. These lines suggest that human connection, even when fleeting, is a crucial part of life.

The middle verse of the song, with its repetition of the phrase "We've saved for a time that may not come," seems to touch on the idea of delayed gratification or working towards future goals, regardless of whether they will come to fruition or not. The lines "Working for names above doors / To get everything done" allude to external markers of success, whether they be professional titles or material possessions. In contrast, the final lines seem to suggest a desire to escape from this pressure and just enjoy a carefree week in the sun.

Overall, "When" is about grappling with the big questions of life, such as what it all means and whether we are living our lives in a way that feels true to ourselves. It acknowledges the challenges and struggles that can come with trying to navigate the complexities and pressures of modern life.

Line by Line Meaning

When all the nights have come
When the darkness has taken over

When all the day time goes
When there's no light in sight

When all the work is done what then
When you've accomplished everything but feel empty inside

When your lovers come
When you're in a relationship

When your love has gone
When your relationship has ended

When a touch comes down on who it's meant to rest on
When someone gets the affection they deserve

We've saved for a time
We've planned for a future

That may not come
That might never happen

Working for names above doors
Working to be recognized

To get everything done
To complete everything on the to-do list

We're flapping about for a week in the sun
We're enjoying a fleeting moment of happiness

Is there someone there?
Is anybody listening?

A click on the line
A sound indicating a connection

Are you playing a game?
Are you being insincere?

For a call I'll be waiting
I'll be here, waiting for a phone call

When you sat at your table
When you're stationary, doing nothing

When you drank yourself silly
When you're trying to forget your troubles by drinking excessively

Just to forget that in the week they own your energies
Just to escape from the fact that your life is dictated by your job

Da dad a dada dad a dad a dad a da
Instrumental

Down down down down
Descending

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LAURA REID, DAVID SCOTT, Kathryn Williams

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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