Siffre released his first six albums of songs between 1970 and 1975, and a further three albums between 1988 and 1998. During this period he had several solo hits, including "It Must Be Love" (No. 14, 1971) (later covered by and a No. 4 hit for Madness, for which Siffre himself appeared in the video); "Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying" (No. 11, 1972); and "Watch Me" (No. 29, 1972). In 1978 two of his songs, "Solid Love" (performed by Siffre) and "We Got It Bad" (co-written and performed by Bob James) reached the UK finals of the BBC's A Song for Europe. His 1987 hit "(Something Inside) So Strong", which reached No. 4, was an anti-Apartheid anthem that won the Ivor Novello Award for "Best Song Musically and Lyrically", and has since been used in Amnesty International campaigns, a television advertisement and Alice Walker's film against female genital mutilation: Warrior Marks.
In 1997, Siffre's play "DeathWrite" was staged at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff and later televised. His song "I Got The..." was sampled in rapper Eminem's hit single "My Name Is," though Siffre objected to what he described as "lazy writing" and it had to be edited to get the sample cleared.
In 1984 Siffre began writing poetry and has since released three books of poetry: "Blood on the Page" 1995 and "Monument" 1997. His poetry addresses a variety of themes, from theology and childhood to sociology, love, hate, language, critical thinking, and communication. In 2006, he released a new album, The Last Songs.
Maybe Tomorrow
Labi Siffre Lyrics
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Maybe tomorrow I′ll wake to find myself sleeping on the floor
But I don't care about the things you care about
And I don't worry about the things you worry about
This bottle in my hand, for tonight is the answer to my prayer
And tomorrow is a long, long way away in the end
Maybe tomorrow won′t come
It′s happened many times before
Salvation's here, it′s really quite a find
My nitwit friend can really ease your mind
This bottle in my hand, for tonight is the answer to my prayer
And tomorrow is a long, long way away in the end
Maybe tomorrow will comе and find me lying still
Maybe tomorrow will come, of coursе I know it will
Nobody asked me if I want it to be here
So if I leave don't talk religion in my ear
This bottle in my hand, for tonight is the answer to my prayer
And tomorrow is a long, long way away in the end
This bottle in my hand, for tonight is the answer to my prayer
And tomorrow is a long, long way away
And tomorrow is a long, long way away
Yes, tomorrow is a long, long way away in the end
But I don′t care because
Tomorrow is a long, long way away
Yes, tomorrow is a long, long way away
Tomorrow is a long, long way away in the end
The lyrics to Labi Siffre's "Maybe Tomorrow" speak to the idea of uncertainty and the coping mechanisms we use to deal with the unknown. The theme of the song appears to be rooted in a search for answers to life's biggest questions, with the singer acknowledging it may take some time for those answers to reveal themselves. The line, "Maybe tomorrow I'll find the answers I'm looking for," suggests that the singer is hoping for something better in the future, but acknowledges that it might not come.
Throughout the song, the singer references a bottle in their hand, which they suggest holds the answer to their prayers for the night. This shows us that the singer is relying on alcohol as a way of coping with their uncertainty and anxiety in the present moment. However, it's clear from the lyrics that the singer recognizes that their salvation lies in something more substantial than just a bottle. "Salvation's here, it's really quite a find, My nitwit friend can really ease your mind," suggests that the singer's salvation may lie in a relationship or a friendship that they cherish.
The last verse of the song is particularly powerful, as the singer suggests that they may not even live to see the answers they're searching for. "Nobody asked me if I want it to be here, So if I leave don't talk religion in my ear," is an indication that the singer is grappling with something greater than just the unknown. Perhaps the singer is considering their own mortality, and the possibility that answers may never come.
Facts about the song:
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe tomorrow I'll find the answers I'm looking for
Possibly, in the future, I might discover the solutions to the inquiries I seek
Maybe tomorrow I'll wake to find myself sleeping on the floor
It's probable that someday I'll awaken and realize that I'm sleeping on the ground
But I don't care about the things you care about
The subjects that you're interested in aren't of any importance to me
And I don't worry about the things you worry about
The concerns that trouble you do not affect me whatsoever
This bottle in my hand, for tonight is the answer to my prayer
For tonight, the contents of the bottle I'm holding will provide the solution I've been hoping for
And tomorrow is a long, long way away in the end
In the grand scheme of things, tomorrow is a considerable amount of time in the future
Maybe tomorrow won't come
It's possible that tomorrow may not arrive
It's happened many times before
In the past, this has been shown to be a possibility
Maybe tomorrow has gone and walked right out the door
Perhaps tomorrow has already arrived and passed, without me even realizing it
Salvation's here, it's really quite a find
The solution to all my problems has arrived and is a significant discovery
My nitwit friend can really ease your mind
My unintelligent acquaintance can genuinely make you feel better
Maybe tomorrow will come and find me lying still
It's feasible that in the future, I'll be discovered motionless when tomorrow arrives
Maybe tomorrow will come, of course I know it will
I'm aware that tomorrow will inevitably come
Nobody asked me if I want it to be here
No one inquired if I approve of tomorrow's arrival
So if I leave don't talk religion in my ear
If I were to depart, I don't want you to speak to me regarding faith or religious matters
But I don't care because tomorrow is a long, long way away
Although tomorrow is in the faraway future, I'm indifferent toward its arrival
And tomorrow is a long, long way away in the end
In the final analysis, tomorrow is a distant, far-off point in time
Writer(s): Labi Siffre
Contributed by Sophia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Melanie
on Cannock Chase
So beautiful :)