Klaatu was named after Michael Rennie's character in the classic science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). The band has reunited a number of times since their breakup for small-scale live performances.
A Routine Day
Klaatu Lyrics
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I got through the morning in the usual way
I caught the bus on time
Good morning, Mr. Driver, drive
As I sat inside my overcoat I clutched my cane
And pressed my nose against the foggy window pane
Ho hum
The life I lead would even make a dead man yawn
I break for lunch
With my sandwich and a beer I go on a hunch
To the park where I hope to find
A little bit of peace of mind
As I sat there on a bench amidst the rodent race
I felt a strange sensation that without a trace appeared
But then as quickly disappeared again
So tell me what's the bloody point of playing the game
With so much to lose yet so little to gain
You sell your life away
Can't you see you're just a cog working like a dog
You trade your future for a dead-end job
That's full of routine days
Routine days
I race the clock to the end of my day
The paycheck in my pocket makes me feel okay
But was it worth the grind
Just to keep from falling behind
I stand here in the queue behind a foul cigar
My face discreetly buried in a book on Mars
Humdrum
And I'm waiting on the pier 'til Charon comes
The song A Routine Day by Klaatu talks about the monotony and bleakness of everyday life. It begins with the singer starting off his day just like any other day. He gets on the bus, sits inside his overcoat, and stares out of the foggy window pane. The lyrics partner the dullness of his life with the dreariness of the weather. As the day progresses, he takes a break for lunch in the park. However, even there, he struggles to find any solace as he's surrounded by "the rodent race". At one point, he experiences a strange sensation that quickly disappears. Then, the song's mood shifts as he questions the point of playing the game of life where there's so much to lose and so little to gain. He reveals his discontentment with his life, which is just full of "routine days". The song's final line talks about waiting for Charon, who is the ferryman of Greek mythology who carries souls of the dead across the river Styx to the underworld.
The lyrics of A Routine Day encapsulate the mundane and uninspiring nature of daily life. The everyday routine can suffocate an individual's hopes, dreams and aspirations. This song highlights how people trade away their existence for the promise of a secure future, only to be stuck in a job that offers no real sense of purpose or joy. The reference to Charon serves as a metaphor for the bleakness of life, as he carries people from one world to another.
Line by Line Meaning
It started off a routine day
The day started as an ordinary, unremarkable day
I got through the morning in the usual way
The morning went by without any significant events
I caught the bus on time
I boarded the bus and left on schedule
Good morning, Mr. Driver, drive
I greeted the bus driver and requested them to drive
As I sat inside my overcoat I clutched my cane
I protected myself from the cold outside by wearing an overcoat and held a cane for assistance
And pressed my nose against the foggy window pane
I leaned forward and touched the bus window which was covered with fog
Ho hum
I felt bored and unenthusiastic about my routine life
The life I lead would even make a dead man yawn
My life is so monotonous and dull that even a dead person would find it uninteresting
Midday comes
It's noon time
I break for lunch
I paused my work to eat my lunch
With my sandwich and a beer I go on a hunch
I went to the park with my lunch hoping to find some peace
To the park where I hope to find
I went to the park with the expectation of finding
A little bit of peace of mind
I wished to experience some tranquility
As I sat there on a bench amidst the rodent race
I sat on a bench among the crowds of people in the park
I felt a strange sensation that without a trace appeared
I experienced an unusual feeling that disappeared without any signs
But then as quickly disappeared again
The sensation went away as quickly as it came
So tell me what's the bloody point of playing the game
I questioned the purpose of going through the motions of life that appear meaningless
With so much to lose yet so little to gain
There is a lot to risk but not much to gain in life
You sell your life away
You give up your life for the sake of living
Can't you see you're just a cog working like a dog
You are just one of the many insignificant people working tirelessly
You trade your future for a dead-end job
You exchange your future prospects for a job with no future growth
That's full of routine days
That is filled with boring and monotonous days
I race the clock to the end of my day
I rush through the remainder of my day to get it over with
The paycheck in my pocket makes me feel okay
The money I earned makes me feel alright even though the job is unsatisfying
But was it worth the grind
But I wonder if it was worthwhile putting in so much effort
Just to keep from falling behind
Just to maintain the societal standard and prevent falling below it
I stand here in the queue behind a foul cigar
I wait in line behind someone who is smoking a terrible cigar
My face discreetly buried in a book on Mars
I read a book about Mars with my face concealed
Humdrum
My life is tedious and unexciting
And I'm waiting on the pier 'til Charon comes
I'm waiting on the pier until Charon, the ferryman, arrives
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOHN WOLOSCHUK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind