Day After Day
Parsons Alan Lyrics

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Gaze at the sky
And picture a memory
Of days in your life
You knew what it meant
To be happy and free
With time on your side

Remember your daddy

When no one was wiser
Your ma used to say
That you would go further
Than he ever could
With time on your side

Think of a boy with the stars in his eye
Longing to reach them but frightened to try
Sadly, you'd say, someday, someday

But day after day
The show must go on
And time slipped away
Before you could build
Any castles in spain
The chance had gone by

With nothing to say
And no one to say it to
Nothing has changed
You've still got it all to do
Surely you know
The chance has gone by

Think of a boy with the stars in his eye
Longing to reach them but frightened to try
Sadly, you'd say, someday, someday

But day after day
The show must go on
And you gaze at the sky
And picture a memory
Of days in your life
With time on your side

With time on your side
(Day after day, the show must go on)
With time on your side
(Day after day, the show must go on)
With time on your side
(Day after day, the show must go on)
With time on your side
(Day after day, the show must go on)

With time on your side
(Day after day, the show must go on)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Alan Parsons' song "Day After Day" are contemplative and nostalgic, encouraging listeners to reflect on the past and the opportunities that may have slipped away. The song begins by asking the listener to gaze at the sky and picture a memory of days that were filled with happiness and freedom. The lyrics suggest that time was once on the side of the listener, and this allowed for an endless array of possibilities. As the song progresses, it acknowledges that there were people in the listener's past who believed in them. The lyrics suggest that this kind of support was crucial for setting goals and taking risks.

The lyrics then transition to a separate character, a young boy with stars in his eyes, who was too frightened to reach for the sky. The lyrics suggest that the boy was filled with regret, as he let opportunity slip away, just like the listener. The song goes on to subtly suggest that every day that passes, it becomes more difficult to take risks and build a better future. The song ends with the same opening lines, reminding the listener to remember the days when time was on their side and they had the courage to pursue their dreams.

Line by Line Meaning

Gaze at the sky
Look up at the sky

And picture a memory
Remember a time from the past

Of days in your life
Of times in your own life

You knew what it meant
You understood the meaning of happiness and freedom

To be happy and free
To experience joy and lack of inhibition

With time on your side
With plenty of time available

Remember your daddy
Think back to your father

When no one was wiser
When he was the wisest person you knew

Your ma used to say
Your mother used to speak

That you would go further
That you would achieve more

Than he ever could
Than your father was able to

Think of a boy with the stars in his eye
Imagine a boy with dreams and aspirations

Longing to reach them but frightened to try
Eager to pursue his dreams, but fearful of failure

Sadly, you'd say, someday, someday
You were hesitant to pursue your own dreams

But day after day
Every day that passed

The show must go on
Life must continue

And time slipped away
Time passed

Before you could build
Before you were able to construct

Any castles in spain
Any grand, unrealistic plans

The chance had gone by
The opportunity was no longer available

With nothing to say
Without anything to contribute

And no one to say it to
Without anyone to talk to

Nothing has changed
Things are still the same

You've still got it all to do
You still have everything to accomplish

Surely you know
You must be aware

The chance has gone by
That the opportunity is no longer present

With time on your side
With lots of available time

With time on your side
With many moments ahead

(Day after day, the show must go on)
Every day the events of life go on

(Day after day, the show must go on)
Every day we must continue to live

(Day after day, the show must go on)
Life doesn't stop for anyone

(Day after day, the show must go on)
We must continue to move forward

(Day after day, the show must go on)
Life continues on

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN PARSONS, ERIC WOOLFSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Jonni IInferno

4y↑16

Gaze at the sky
And picture a memory
Of days in your life
You knew what it meant to be happy and free
With time on your side

Remember your daddy
When no one was wiser
Your ma used to say
That you would go further than he ever could
With time on your side

Think of a boy with the stars in his eye
Longing to reach them but frightened to try
Sadly you'd say someday, someday

But day after day
The show must go on
And time slipped away
Before you could build any castles in Spain
The chance had gone by

With nothing to say
And no one to say it to
Nothing has changed
You've still got it all to do
Surely you know
The chance has gone by

Think of a boy with the stars in his eye
Longing to reach them but frightened to try
Sadly you'd say someday, someday

But day after day
The show must go on
And you gaze at the sky
And picture a memory of days in your life
With time on your side

With time on your side
(Day after day the show must go on)
With time on your side
(Day after day the show must go on)

רחלי מיכאלי

התוצאות הראשיות

הביטו בשמיים
Gaze at the sky

ותמונה זיכרון של
And picture a memory of

ימים בחייך
Days in your life

ידעת מה זה אומר להיות מאושר וחופשי
You knew what it meant to be happy and free

עם הזמן בצד שלך
With time on your side

זכור את אבא שלך
Remember your daddy

כשאף אחד לא היה חכם יותר
When no one was wiser

אמא שלך הייתה אומרת
Your ma used to say

שתלך רחוק יותר ממה שהוא יכול אי פעם
That you would go further than he ever could

עם הזמן בצד שלך
With time on your side

תחשוב על ילד עם הכוכבים בעין
Think of a boy with the stars in his eye

משתוקק להגיע אליהם אבל מפחד לנסות
Longing to reach them but frightened to try

למרבה הצער, היית אומר
Sadly, you'd say

מתישהו, מתישהו
Someday, someday

אבל יום אחרי יום
But day after day

המופע חייב להימשך
The show must go on

והזמן חמק
And time slipped away

לפני שהצלחת לבנות טירות כלשהן בספרד
Before you could build any castles in Spain

ההזדמנות חלפה
The chance had gone by

בלי מה להגיד
With nothing to say

ואין למי להגיד את זה
And no one to say it to

שום דבר לא השתנה
Nothing has changed

עדיין יש לך הכל לעשות
You've still got it all to do

בטח אתה יודע
Surely you know

ההזדמנות חלפה
The chance has gone by

תחשוב על ילד עם הכוכבים בעין
Think of a boy with the stars in his eye

משתוקק להגיע אליהם אבל מפחד לנסות
Longing to reach them but frightened to try

למרבה הצער, היית אומר
Sadly, you'd say

מתישהו, מתישהו
Someday, someday

אבל יום אחרי יום
But day after day

המופע חייב להימשך
The show must go on

ואתה מביט בשמיים
And you gaze at the sky

ותארו לכם זיכרון של ימים בחייכם
And picture a memory of days in your life

עם הזמן בצד שלך
With time on your side

עם הזמן בצד שלך (יום אחרי יום)
With time on your side (day after day)

(המופע חייב להימשך)
(The show must go on)

עם הזמן בצד שלך (יום אחרי יום)
With time on your side (day after day)

(המופע חייב להימשך)
(The show must go on)

עם הזמן בצד שלך (יום אחרי יום)
With time on your side (day after day)

(המופע חייב להימשך)
(The show must go on)

עם הזמן בצד שלך (יום אחרי יום)
With time on your side (day after day)

(המופע חייב להימשך)
(The show must go on)

עם הזמן בצד שלך (יום אחרי יום)
With time on your side (day after day)

(המופע חייב ללכת...)
(The show must go...)

All comments from YouTube:

emkkahn

4y↑55

This song. My life didn't turn out anything like the 12 year old who bought this album expected: astronaut, drummer, writer...
But now as "grandpa" with a family I never knew I needed, I've made peace with this song. I actually started singing it today when mowing my lawn with my grand daughter looking at me.... Which is why I looked it up on YouTube...
It's good to have dreams when you are a child, but don't cripple yourself with regret if life throws you a curve ball. Just lean into it...

Ott Zuercher

2y↑1

@emkkahn Yes I thought of the same as well until I got a better stereo system Lol. It is definitely Castle in Spain! I love this song because if this song I became a fan of APP! Timeless my favorite album of all times!! Ps. I believe lots of people thought it was Castle in Space.

david wineland

2y↑2

@Starky Don't quit, there is a reason your here. I'm 61, still searching for my purpose, even tho my heart may be empty, my soul continues to push me on. Your not alone, God's blessings.

Starky

4y↑4

emkkahn I sincerely appreciate the advice and the openness to talk!

emkkahn

4y↑4

@Starky I don't know your personal situation, upsidedown.
I only know that I was a pretty awkward/depressed/out of sorts young adult and it took me real time to find my place in society. Of course finding yourself back "in the day" was easier: we had no internet and no Social Media at all to compare ourselves too.
Hang in there! And try not to worry about what other people do or say. You are an individual with your own identity and path.
These are not "normal" times, that's for sure. If you ever want to talk, hit me up!

Starky

4y↑9

I’m 26 and am completely lost. I’m currently trying to deal with life not currently being quite what I thought it would be. It’s very hard, but I’ll try and remember your words next time I get down. This song helps too.

3 More Replies...

Timothy Bessemer

5y↑55

This song should be dedicated to all who had broken dreams. It is lovely and says so much about how we must go on despite the shattered illusions.

Niven42

This is the story of my life.

John Donwood

2y↑1

Then there's the people who never had a dream at all.

Mark Dresslar

3y↑1

Well put.
The chance has gone by..

Shane Tanner

Yah ma used to say that you would go farther the he ever could with time on ya side..😣

Robert Byrd

4y↑2

@Timothy Bessemer Dont give up, EVER. Michael Jordan has said that he has lost 300 games and blew the game winning shot 26 times. DOn't Quit. You dont learn by winning. Thats the reward for diligence and persistence.

2 More Replies...

Eugene Pembleton

3y↑15

Created tears when i was 18. Creates tears at 63. Tears that heal.

Craig Patterson

2y↑5

Even in 2022 , this Song still means so much to me .
The very first time I heard it , I think I was 13 , now at 55 .... Who would've known that those Lyrics were connected to Life and more future experiences that we all must accept coming at us and just do the best that we can .
The show must go on .
I wish everyone the best !
And a great journey ❤️

Andy Boerger

4y↑40

It is not surprising that an exceptional group of wounded, beautiful souls have found their way to this song, and the comments section. May blessings be upon you all :)

Craig Patterson

1y↑1

But I'm gonna bless you First , for blessing me ❤️🙏🏾✌🏾

Eric Andrei Mejia

3y↑28

This song made me cry, thinking in the broken dreams and mostly,
in the failures throughout my life.

emkkahn

2y↑1

Me too. Until I started to look at the people in my life that relied on me to help them along with their lives...

MarcSchmidt

Wow... Look at that. I dreamed of my first wife, just before I noticed that she was an squizo
..

Eric Andrei Mejia

3y↑3

@Hector Velos Fo sho, need to keep going, keep breathing.

Hector Velos

3y↑4

As the most of us in here buddy, time is no longer in our side, but, Day after Day, the show must go on

Greg Szwec

3y↑11

The slide guitar on this work is slept on way too much. It's absolutely fantastic.

Electric Sailor

4y↑13

This song touches me in such a deep place in my soul that only the music of Brian Wilson's most sensitive work with the Beach Boys does for me. When I think all the times in my life that I was a failure, and couldn't measure up to the level of success that my parents had in life, the words of this song come back to haunt me with Woolfson's tender vocal delivery as the therapy I need to reassure me

Joe DiSantis

Beautiful melancholy song. Takes you back to your childhood daydreams and the wonder of how your life might turn out.

Alex Eastwood

7y↑42

Such a beautiful song with a bittersweet message...

CaroleAnn_21

3y↑1

AMEN TO THAT, GORGEOUS

Daniel Garcia Arias

@hit The Show Must Go On

Tommy Baird

2y↑3

One of my favorites, this song helps me through life

Jonni IInferno

4y↑16

Kihm Sanders

I was in college, at UMass Amherst in 1977, and these two hip New Yorkers in a dorm room down the hall turned me on to both Graham Parker and the Alan Parsons Project. Totally different kinds of bands, but both pinnacles of excellence in thoughtful, evocative and progressive music. I don't remember the names of these two fellows, but I am forever in their debt for sharing their musical knowledge with me.

Malcolm Stockbridge

3y↑3

One of Alans best, it uses one of his common tricks of a repeating harmony in the background through the entire track, its something that can also be found on the Vulture Culture album and others, it just pulls you in and you are hooked every time :)

Malcolm Stockbridge

2y↑1

@BrainEatingApe ps forgot to mention....this track of Alans was used at Laserium the laser show in London back many decades ago...and you are right when coupled with the lightshow and lasers it 100% touched my mind.

Malcolm Stockbridge

2y↑1

@BrainEatingApe I just love that last sentence :)....I think I might be using that one myself...thanks

BrainEatingApe

2y↑1

I love that trick that Parsons uses. In this song it's six notes that repeat over and over, but are played in an ambiguous manner so that your brain switches back and forth as it tries to figure out which of the six notes the "accent" is on. It's Parsons' clever devices like this that have led me to tell people "The Beatles touch my heart, Jean-Luc Ponty touches my soul, and Alan Parsons touches my mind."

Kevin Trontl

Heard this for the first time on an all night album replay, W4 in Detroit when it was a rock station. I would join the Navy the next year, see the world, and come back home. My life experience was much larger than I could ever have dreamed. Still is today. Better than I could ever dream. Not rich, not poor, and doing a job that's tough but not too crazy.

Thierry Meyer

I really love this song!

Andre Thompson

2y↑1

Can't remember listening to this song while I was in high school and not being high. I would just let the cassette roll, that's right the cassette 😌

jhillst

3y↑3

This is one of those early APP songs that makes me wish Alan had let Eric sing lead prior to 1980. His voice would have been perfect for this song -- ditto for a few other early tracks, like To One In Paradise, Don't Let It Show and Shadow of a Lonely Man.

Cheez Head

3y↑4

Beautiful perfection

Biorage

4y↑17

Best song Pink Floyd never wrote!

Niven42

2y↑1

It's pretty likely that Alan was doing some of these tracks at the same time that Floyd was in the room next door at Abbey Road.

Nay Mello

3y↑1

It surely is very floydish, reminds me of Fat Old Sun

Lone Spokesperson

I agree completely. I moves everyone who had a boyhood.

luna sea

4y↑4

Alan parsons project es el padre de bandas como air

jamochashake57

3y↑4

wow, it's like they know me personally. but i guess far too many of us can relate. truly my chance has gone by

Kirke182

4y↑3

Had at least two members of Pilot on this track: Stuart Tosh on drums and Dave Paton on bass. Might have Ian Bairnson on guitar which would make 3 members of Pilot.

Rob Heywood

4y↑12

Who is this 1 thumbs down? I feel bad for them.

Chris Austin

Bill Gates gave it a thumbs down.

Kjell Siimon

Capo on 2:nd fret does the trick if one was to play this tune on guitar. Lovely song.

Snarkapotamus

Key of D...C#/F#.

רחלי מיכאלי

topsy

3y↑5

If you could travel back in time, would you? I suspect it'd be a wasted effort. The fact is, even if you are a young adult and time is on your side, a point comes where you can see life sliding into dreams unfulfilled and maximum effort can be made to prevent that from happening. But in the end, despite the herculean effort, it still doesn't work out. By the time you get around to trying again, time isn't on your side any longer.

TRIARII117

3y↑8

real existential dread hours

S G

The story of my life

Albertina Camus

Proud of my old home

C. Cristian V

3y↑2

Burning Bridges. Pink floyd

TheMexart

Spot on

Karla Vargas

4y↑4

Castillos de espana

a new bug

Yep.

Quaalude Charlie

3y↑1

:) QC

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