Day Is Done
Nick Drake Lyrics


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When the day is done
Down to earth then sinks the sun
Along with everything that was lost and won
When the day is done

When the day is done
Hope so much your race will be all run
Then you find you jumped the gun
Have to go back where you begun

When the day is done, when the night is cold
Some get by but some get old
Just to show life's not made of gold
When the night is cold

When the bird has flown
Got no-one to call your own
No place to call your home
Now the bird has flown

When the game's been fought
Newspaper blown across the court
Lost much sooner than you would have thought
Now the game's been fought

When the party's through
Seems so very sad for you
Didn't do the things you meant to do
Now there's no time to start anew
Now the party's through

When the day is done
Down to earth then sinks the sun




Along with everything that was lost and won
When the day is done

Overall Meaning

In Nick Drake's song "Day Is Done", we are faced with the inevitability of life and its fleeting moments. It is a melancholic reflection on the human experience, highlighting the disappointments, missed opportunities, and the fragility of life. The song is underlined by the recurring theme of time, as Drake laments how it ticks away, leaving us with nothing but memories and regrets.


The opening lines of the song speak of the end of the day, as the sun sinks down to earth, taking with it everything that was once gained or lost. This is a metaphor for how all our efforts and struggles can easily be forgotten by time. The second verse continues with this sentiment, adding that we don't always have the chance to complete what we've started or finish our race, reminding us how we must subsequently return to the start. The following verses, in turn, describe challenges such as loneliness, lost opportunities, and the sudden end of happiness, all of which become more poignant when juxtaposed with Drakeā€™s whimsical guitar riff.


Ultimately, the song is a reminder to cherish every moment, to make the most of what we have, and to live our lives to the fullest, even if we fall short of our ambitions. It urges us to appreciate the beauty of life, even when it is plagued by setbacks and difficulties.


Line by Line Meaning

When the day is done
At the end of the day


Down to earth then sinks the sun
The sun sets below the horizon


Along with everything that was lost and won
Marking the end of successes and failures


Hope so much your race will be all run
Hoping to complete one's goals


Then you find you jumped the gun
Discovering you acted prematurely


Have to go back where you begun
Starting over due to past mistakes


When the night is cold
During a difficult period


Some get by but some get old
Some cope better than others, but everyone ages


Just to show life's not made of gold
A reminder that life comes with challenges


When the bird has flown
When opportunities have passed


Got no-one to call your own
Feeling alone and isolated


No place to call your home
Feeling like you don't belong anywhere


Now the bird has flown
Opportunities have passed


When the game's been fought
After a competition or struggle


Newspaper blown across the court
A metaphor for an undesired outcome


Lost much sooner than you would have thought
A surprising loss


Now the game's been fought
The competition has ended


When the party's through
After a social event has ended


Seems so very sad for you
Feeling disappointed about the outcome


Didn't do the things you meant to do
Failing to meet personal expectations or goals


Now there's no time to start anew
A sense of finality and missed opportunities


When the day is done
At the end of the day


Down to earth then sinks the sun
The sun sets below the horizon


Along with everything that was lost and won
Marking the end of successes and failures




Lyrics Ā© Kanjian Music, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Nick Drake

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Preston


on Kimbie

And I need

And I need a Mackinaw

Preston


on Kimbie

how

hawl

Preston


on Kimbie

It's not a show. It's a shawl. The point here is that can be once a luxury item, a shawl that costs $9, while the speaker needs a Mackinaw, which is a practical warm coat. She "wants" something, but he "needs" something.

Preston


on Kimbie

Kimbie wants a nine dollar show
Kimbie desires a performance that costs exactly nine dollars

Kimbie wants a nine dollar show
Kimbie repeatedly expresses her desire for a nine dollar performance

She wants a nine dollar show
Kimbie is insistent on attending a nine dollar show

And I need
The artist has a need that is yet to be revealed

Well Kimbie let your hair hang down
The artist is telling Kimbie to let her hair loose and relax

Kimbie let your hair hang down
The singer repeats his request to Kimbie, urging her to let go of her worries

Let your hair hang down
The singer encourages Kimbie to let her hair down, implying that she should stop worrying and enjoy herself

T'il it touches the ground
The artist suggests that Kimbie should let her hair down completely

Well Kimbie let your hair hang down
The artist reminds Kimbie to let go of her worries as he intends to depart soon

Kimbie let your hair hang down
The artist emphasizes the importance of Kimbie letting her hair down before he leaves

Cause come the morning Iā€™ll be gone
The singer implies that he will not stay for long

Well Kimbie where you been so long
The artist questions Kimbie's whereabouts since he last saw her

Iā€™ve been down in your state pen
Kimbie has spent time in a prison located in the singer's state

With those rough and rowdy
Kimbie has been surrounded by aggressive and unruly people

Rough and rowdy men
The people Kimbie has been surrounded by in prison are male and are known for their aggressive behaviour

Well Kimbie where you been so long
The artist repeats his question, wondering where Kimbie has been and why she has been away for so long

And I gotta go back again
Kimbie reveals that she has to return to prison once again

Well I wished I was a mole in the ground
The singer expresses his wish to be a mole that burrows underground

I wished I were a mole in the ground
The singer repeats his desire to become a mole

I was a mole in the ground
The artist imagines himself as a mole burrowing beneath the surface of the earth

And that Iā€™d tear this mountain
The artist imagines himself digging through a mountain

Iā€™d tear this mountain down
The artist would use his strength to destroy a mountain if he were a mole

Wished I was a mole in the ground
The singer repeats his desire to become a mole, implying that he wants to be free from the burdens of the human world

Dave


on Free Ride

That interpretation isn't correct at all.

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