At the End of the Day
Michael Rutherford Lyrics


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The day is nearly ended hurry home to your bed
My nights are oh so lonely come and lay down your head
The eyes of all our children growing heavy with sleep
And with one final flicker into a world full of dreams.

Oh I need you now through the lonely nights
And when the morning comes upon us
I'll be holding you so close to me.

The grass is never greener either side of the wall
If I am here or somewhere many miles away
For I have come to realize nothing changes at all.

Oh I need you now through the lonely nights




And when the morning comes upon us
I'll be holding you so close to me.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Michael Rutherford's song At the End of the Day express the loneliness that comes with the end of the day and the yearning for the comfort and company of a loved one. The song opens with an invitation to hurry home to bed, as the night can be a lonely time. The singer acknowledges that the children are growing heavy with sleep, but even as they drift off to dreamland, the singer remains alone. He implores his loved one to come and lay down by his side to comfort him in his loneliness.


The second verse of the song expresses the idea that no matter where one is, the grass is never greener on the other side. Whether he is physically present or miles away, the singer realizes that nothing changes. This recognition highlights the importance of finding comfort in the familiar and the people who are closest to us.


The chorus repeats the singer's need for his loved one during lonely nights and the comfort that they will find in each other's arms when the morning comes. The simple and heartfelt lyrics of the song convey a sense of longing and a reminder of the importance of human connection.


Line by Line Meaning

The day is nearly ended hurry home to your bed
The day is almost over, so it's time to go back to your place of rest.


My nights are oh so lonely come and lay down your head
I feel a sense of loneliness during the night and wish for you to sleep beside me.


The eyes of all our children growing heavy with sleep
The kids are showing signs of sleepiness as they grow tired.


And with one final flicker into a world full of dreams.
As they fall asleep, they enter a realm of subconscious dreams.


Oh I need you now through the lonely nights
I require you to be by my side during the dark hours when I feel alone.


And when the morning comes upon us
As dawn breaks and the daylight approaches.


I'll be holding you so close to me.
I will embrace you tightly and remain close to you.


The grass is never greener either side of the wall
One should not presume that different circumstances always come with better outcomes.


If I am here or somewhere many miles away
Whether I am here or far away in a distant land.


For I have come to realize nothing changes at all.
I have come to understand that nothing alters, and everything stays the same.




Contributed by Bella K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Armand Sutansyah

I was 26 when this album launched, now I'm 67 and never bored to listen this incredible song.

Daddi Safriadi

I listening this song in 1982... When i was a 23 years old... And now i am 61 years old. Beautiful song.... 💕💝

Simon Waddington

Ditto

FenomenoCreativo

@Noel McCalla 3:07 I was 18 in 1980 when I bought this album. Lovely song in my heart and your voice 😍 Sweey memories.

Martin 482

@Noel McCalla You did a great job on this album and also with Manfred Mann. Greetings from Germany. The best beer is from here.🍺

Zoran Kalina

About the same...🙂👍

SuperQdaddy

Yes..I had it on one of my mix tapes..

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Julian Staniforth

I listened to this song again over the summer not having listened to it for years and it brought tears to my eyes as it touched a deep place.....powerful

L. BalEs

Bravo Mike Rutherford!!!! Hermosa voz!!! Larga vida a Mike Rutherford de Genesis!!!

Keith F

Great song. Best song from Mike Rutherford's brilliant debut solo album Smallcreep's Day. The pace and melody of the song, coupled with the way it closes out one side of the album reminds me very much of the brilliant 'Afterglow' from Genesis' great Wind & Wuthering album.

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