Peter Bjorn and John was formed in Stockholm, Sweden in 1999. Made up of me… Read Full Bio ↴Peter Bjorn and John was formed in Stockholm, Sweden in 1999. Made up of members Peter Morén on vocals, guitar, and harmonica; Björn Yttling on vocals, bass, and keyboards; and John Eriksson on drums, percussion, and vocals. The band has released six albums: "Peter Bjorn and John" (2002), "Falling Out" (2004), "Writer's Block" (2006), "Seaside Rock" (2008), "Living Thing" (2009) and "Gimme Some" (2011). The band is influenced by the sounds of classic '60s baroque pop, power pop, and new wave

The band gained recognition in the United Kingdom and United States during 2006 and 2007 due to the success of their single "Young Folks", whilst staying virtually unknown in their homeland, Sweden.

Darker Days
Peter Bjorn and John Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dying light, take my hands
And run them through
We'll make oceans from the wells in the earth
Take the poison from my tongue
And syphon it in your blood, in your blood

Looming dark, take the love that's been promised and run away
Let's run away

So where will I go when the time comes
Lord only knows who cares

Days are darker earlier now
And I can feel the blackness coming right over me
Learn to see without the sun
You'll thank me later when God comes 'round to pick up debris

Load me up on consequence
A failing shadow's out to see
How I did not prepare for this
Covers all of what's in front of me

I feel the salt, deep
Nothing where I sit
I miss the soft, sweet
Taste of your lips
I saw the line, drawn
Over my face
It turns into awful and formless shape
It stays

Days are darker earlier now
And I can feel the blackness coming right over me
Learn to see without the sun
You'll thank me later when God comes 'round to pick up debris

Stuck in terminal conflict
A marionette
Tucked in underneath rubble
This can't be it

Days are darker earlier now
And I can feel the blackness coming right over me, over me
I've learned to see without the sun
You'll thank me later when God comes 'round to pick up debris

Oh, there's nothing left here
So take all my fears
And drown them out with the light
The bells are screaming in my ears
They say I've wasted my life

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Darker Days" by Peter Bjorn and John evoke a deeply reflective and at times haunting meditation on themes of despair, loss, and longing. The opening stanza presents an intimate plea for connection amid darkness. The imagery of "dying light" suggests a fading sense of hope or vitality, with the singer seeking a bond that can transcend the impending darkness. The metaphor of making "oceans from the wells in the earth" indicates a desire to transform pain into something meaningful, perhaps suggesting that even in hardship, there can be beauty and depth. This metaphor also resonates with the idea of drawing from deep emotional reserves, urging someone to "take the poison from my tongue"—a wish to alleviate the burdensome negativity or bitterness that can cloud one's perception. By inviting someone to absorb this negativity into their own being ("syphon it in your blood"), the singer expresses a longing for mutual understanding and support, highlighting the transformative power of love and companionship.

As the song unfolds, a palpable sense of existential dread takes hold, particularly in the lines about the "looming dark" and the possible loss of promised love. This darkness represents not only a personal abyss but also the uncertainty of the future. The rhetorical question, "So where will I go when the time comes, Lord only knows who cares," reflects a deep-seated anxiety about direction and purpose, implying a feeling of abandonment or insignificance. The desire to run away suggests an instinct to escape from the encroaching shadows, yet there is an awareness that such flight may not offer any solutions. These verses encapsulate a struggle against forming connections and the ensuing question of whether love can indeed provide a sanctuary from despair—or whether it ultimately leads to more pain when one realizes such love may be fleeting.

The repeated refrain of "Days are darker earlier now" serves as a poignant reminder of the relentless passage of time and its effects on one's mental state. The darkening days symbolize an internal struggle; the singer feels the "blackness" overwhelming them, possibly hinting at mental health issues like depression. The notion of "learning to see without the sun" suggests a forced adaptation to an emotionally muted existence, where clarity is obscured not by literal darkness but by emotional turmoil. The idea of God coming around to "pick up debris" adds a spiritual dimension, implying that while destruction and chaos are part of life, there may also be redemption and rebuilding. This reflects a complex interplay of hopelessness and hope, reinforcing the idea that, despite enduring suffering, there may be a form of resurrection awaiting in the aftermath.

Finally, the culmination of emotional conflict is evident in the singer's feelings of desolation as they express yearning for "the soft, sweet taste" of love, which seems painfully out of reach. The image of the singer being a "marionette tucked in underneath rubble" conveys a sense of powerlessness and a struggle against their circumstances, unable to fully grasp life's potential. The phrase “there’s nothing left here” solidifies a haunting emptiness, and the request to "drown [fears] out with the light" introduces a yearning for clarity and relief from distress. The closing lines— the bells screaming in the singer's ears, declaring their life wasted—underscore regret and an urgent plea for transformation. Overall, "Darker Days" encapsulates a profound emotional journey through darkness, grappling with love, loss, and ultimately searching for solace amidst the shadows.

Line by Line Meaning

Dying light, take my hands
As the fading illumination of life wanes, I seek a connection that grounds me.

And run them through
Allow these hands to feel and understand the depth of experience.

We'll make oceans from the wells in the earth
Together, we can create vast emotional depths from the resources and emotions buried within us.

Take the poison from my tongue
Remove the harmful words and negativity that I express.

And syphon it in your blood, in your blood
Let my struggles become intertwined with your essence, influencing you deeply.

Looming dark, take the love that's been promised and run away
Faced with impending despair, let’s escape the unfulfilled expectations of love together.

Let's run away
Let's make a decisive break from these circumstances.

So where will I go when the time comes
I am uncertain about my direction when faced with inevitable change.

Lord only knows who cares
Ultimately, it seems that only the higher power has awareness or concern for my fate.

Days are darker earlier now
The onset of despair comes sooner in my life, eclipsing hope.

And I can feel the blackness coming right over me
I sense the engulfing presence of hopelessness surrounding me.

Learn to see without the sun
Adapt to finding clarity and understanding even in the darkest times.

You'll thank me later when God comes 'round to pick up debris
In the future, you’ll appreciate my guidance when resolution comes to clean up the remnants of our struggles.

Load me up on consequence
Fill me with the outcomes of my actions, however overwhelming they may be.

A failing shadow's out to see
A deteriorating aspect of myself emerges, seeking acknowledgment.

How I did not prepare for this
I realize now how inadequately I have equipped myself for these challenges.

Covers all of what's in front of me
My unpreparedness obscures the realities and opportunities that lay ahead.

I feel the salt, deep
I experience profound sorrow that resonates within me.

Nothing where I sit
I feel a sense of emptiness in my current situation.

I miss the soft, sweet
I yearn for the gentle, tender aspects that once brought me joy.

Taste of your lips
I long for the comforting intimacy and love that once connected us.

I saw the line, drawn
I became aware of the boundaries that delineate my current emotional state.

Over my face
These burdens manifest visibly, affecting my expression and demeanor.

It turns into awful and formless shape
This emotional weight evolves into an overwhelming, indistinct presence.

It stays
This feeling lingers, refusing to dissipate or be resolved.

Days are darker earlier now
The descent into my current emotional turmoil occurs more swiftly now.

And I can feel the blackness coming right over me
I am acutely aware of the encroaching despair that looms over me.

Learn to see without the sun
Acquire the ability to find meaning in life’s challenges without relying on external light.

You'll thank me later when God comes 'round to pick up debris
In hindsight, you will appreciate my wisdom when restoration follows destruction.

Stuck in terminal conflict
I find myself trapped in a relentless struggle with no resolution in sight.

A marionette
I feel like a puppet, controlled by forces outside of my will.

Tucked in underneath rubble
I am buried beneath the wreckage of my own decisions and the chaos around me.

This can't be it
I refuse to accept that this bleak reality is the end of my journey.

Days are darker earlier now
The shadow of despair falls upon me more quickly than before.

And I can feel the blackness coming right over me, over me
I am acutely aware of the impending gloom that threatens to envelop me entirely.

I've learned to see without the sun
I have developed the capacity to navigate through adversity, even in its darkest moments.

You'll thank me later when God comes 'round to pick up debris
One day, you will recognize the value of my guidance when clarity emerges from chaos.

Oh, there's nothing left here
I find myself in a state of desolation, devoid of hope or fulfillment.

So take all my fears
I am ready to relinquish my anxieties and doubts.

And drown them out with the light
Replace my fears with positivity and illumination.

The bells are screaming in my ears
I am overwhelmed by harsh reminders of my shortcomings and the passage of time.

They say I've wasted my life
I am confronted with the regret that I have squandered opportunities and time.

Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Brandon Martinez, Christian Singh, Jack Lips, Joshua Lustig, Nicholas Spillert, Paul Singh, Stephen Kelly

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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