Williams has received a record 18 Brit Awards, winning Best British Male Artist four times, Outstanding Contribution to Music twice, an Icon Award for his lasting impact on British culture, eight German ECHO Awards, and three MTV European Music Awards. In 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame after being voted the Greatest Artist of the 1990s. According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), he has been certified for 20.2 million albums and 8.66 million singles in the UK as a solo artist. Five of his albums have also topped the Australian albums chart, and has sold 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He also topped the 2000–2010 UK airplay chart. His three concerts at Knebworth in 2003 drew over 375,000 people, the UK's biggest music event to that point. In 2014, he was awarded the freedom of his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent and had a tourist trail created and streets named in his honour. Williams' thirteenth album, XXV was released on 9 September 2022.
After 15 years, Williams rejoined Take That in 2010 to co-write and perform lead vocals on their album Progress, which became the second-fastest-selling album in UK chart history and the fastest-selling record of the century at the time. The subsequent stadium tour, which featured seven songs from Williams' solo career, became the biggest-selling concert in UK history when it sold 1.34 million tickets in less than 24 hours. In 2011, Take That frontman Gary Barlow confirmed that Williams had left the band for a second time to focus on his solo career, although he stated that the departure was amicable and that Williams was welcome to rejoin Take That in the future. Williams has since performed with Take That on three separate television appearances, and collaborated with Barlow on a number of projects such as the West End musical The Band.
Better Days
Robbie Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think the sooner the better
'Cause the time is right to find a better day
I'm an angry young man
Man I wish I was young
My guitar is out of tune even that's highly strung
Shook the world to the core
We had nothing to say last night
We'd said it all before
And I say
Lonely times and lonely tears
Will fade away when you disappear
The time is right for me to stray
I'm gonna find a better day
Kickin' off cause it suits me
I'm gonna leave the country
And the time is right to find a better day
Makin' sense of my past now
I'll only love when I want to
Cause the time is right to find a better day
Maybe I didn't love you
Maybe you loved her less
Would you have preferred it
If I'd have worn the dress
Cos I say
Lonely times and lonely tears
Will fade away when you disappear
The time is right for me to stray
I'm gonna find a better day
Lonely times and lonely tears
Will fade away when you disappear
The time is right for me to stray
I'm gonna find a better day
No where to run to baby
No where to hide
I got no where to run to baby
And nowhere to hide
The lyrics to Robbie Williams's song "Better Days" reflect the pain, frustration and disillusionment of a relationship that has gone south. The opening line "I'm gonna write you a letter, I think the sooner the better, 'Cause the time is right to find a better day" signals an impending breakup. The singer is aware that things are not working out and has decided to end the relationship. The urgency of the situation requires him to write the letter, which serves as a means of communication and closure.
The verses present a mix of emotions and attitudes that create a complex portrait of the singer. He is an angry young man who wishes he were young, suggesting a sense of regret and longing for his youth. His guitar is out of tune and highly strung, a metaphor for his troubled state of mind. The words they didn't say last night shook the world to the core, indicating that there was a deep-rooted conflict that remained unresolved. The singer is aware that he is not blameless and admits to his mistakes by saying, "Maybe I didn't love you, maybe you loved her less, would you have preferred it if I'd have worn the dress."
The chorus, "Lonely times and lonely tears will fade away when you disappear, the time is right for me to stray, I'm gonna find a better day," reflects the singer's desire to move on and find a better life. He wants to leave the past behind and start anew. The idea of finding a better day suggests a sense of optimism and hope for the future.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna write you a letter
I feel the need to express my thoughts and sentiments through written communication.
I think the sooner the better
Timing is crucial, and the earlier I send the letter, the better.
'Cause the time is right to find a better day
I sense that this is the opportune moment to move forward towards a happier and brighter future.
I'm an angry young man
I am feeling intense emotion that has resulted in anger, and I am comparatively youthful in age.
Man I wish I was young
Despite my relatively youthful age, I yearn for the added energy and time that comes with adolescence.
My guitar is out of tune even that's highly strung
I have strung my guitar tightly but it remains out of tune, representing the discord in my life despite my efforts to maintain stability.
And the words we didn't say last night
The unspoken communication that occurred last night holds great significance.
Shook the world to the core
The implications of the things we didn't say have had deep, far-reaching effects.
We had nothing to say last night
Our conversation was inadequate, having exhausted all topics of discussion in the past.
We'd said it all before
Our relationship is stale and lacking in novelty.
And I say
My opinions and thoughts on this matter are as follows.
Lonely times and lonely tears
During times of solitude and vulnerability, my sorrow is acute.
Will fade away when you disappear
By removing yourself from my life, my negative emotions will eventually dissipate.
The time is right for me to stray
I feel compelled to deviate from my current path and pursue a different course.
I'm gonna find a better day
I am optimistic that I will achieve a brighter and more positive future.
Kickin' off 'cause it suits me
I am engaging in disruptive behavior, solely due to my own selfish whim.
I'm gonna leave the country
I plan to physically depart from my current location and surroundings.
Makin' sense of my past now
I am attempting to make sense of my previous experiences in order to move forward with greater clarity.
I'll only love when I want to
I am unwilling to commit to loving anyone at any given time, but rather will love when it feels right for me to do so.
Cause the time is right to find a better day
I sense that this is the most opportune moment to move forward towards a brighter, more fulfilling future.
Maybe I didn't love you
It is possible that I did not truly love you after all.
Maybe you loved her less
The possibility exists that you had more love for another person than you did for me.
Would you have preferred it if I'd have worn the dress
Amidst these complex emotions and breakups, would it have made a difference to you if I presented myself in a way that was feminine by nature.
No where to run to baby
It feels as though there is no escape nor alternative solutions available.
No where to hide
There is the sensation of being exposed and vulnerable to those around me.
I got no where to run to baby
There is not a single option or solution that feels viable at present.
And nowhere to hide
Even my guarded, private thoughts and feelings now feel exposed and discovered.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETE MURRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Win Some Lose Some
Yet another fantastic Robbie Williams song. Absolutely fantastic.
Philip Kassabian
on Millennium
What a fantastic song by Robbie Williams.
Edy Souza
on Advertising Space
:)
Edy Souza
on Angels
Love! Love!