At The End Of The Day
Robert Billig Lyrics
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And that's all you can say for the life of the poor
It's a struggle, it's a war
And there's nothing that anyone's giving
One more day standing about
What is it for?
One less day to be living.
And the shirt on your back doesn't keep out the chill
And the righteous hurry past
They don't hear the little ones crying
And the winter is coming on fast,
Ready to kill
When the heroes are dying.
At the end of the day, there's another day dawning
And the sun in the morning is waiting to rise
Like the waves crash on the sand
Like a storm that'll break any second
There's a hunger in the land
There's a reckoning still to be reckoned
And there's going to be hell to pay
At the end of the day.
At the end of the day, you get nothing for nothing
Sitting flat on your butt doesn't buy any bread
There are children back at home
And the children have got to be fed
And you're lucky to be in a job
And in a bed
And we're counting our blessings.
Have you seen how the foreman is fuming today?
With his terrible breath and his wandering hands?
It's because little Fontein won't give him his way
Take a look at his trousers, you'll see where he stands.
The lyrics to Robert Billig's song At the End of the Day paint a bleak picture of the struggles of poverty and the survival instinct that comes with it. The chorus is a consistent reminder of the passing of time and the seeming futility of it all. The first verse speaks to the mundanity of poverty, where survival hinges on the completion of another day. The second verse highlights the harshness of poverty, where even a simple article of clothing cannot shield one from the cold, and the suffering of others is ignored. The third verse is a call to action, a reminder that each day brings a new opportunity to fight for change, to rise like the sun and shake up the status quo. The final verse is a moment of reflection, highlighting both the blessings of what one has and the cost of maintaining those blessings.
Through the use of vivid imagery and repetition, Billig creates a visceral experience of the desperation and hopelessness that comes with poverty. The repetition of "at the end of the day" serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of time, and the necessity of seizing every opportunity. The verses that speak to the harshness of poverty, with lines like "the righteous hurry past, they don't hear the little ones crying," paint a disturbing picture of neglect and apathy towards those who are suffering. And yet, in the final verse, there is a glimmer of hope and a call to action, a reminder that even in the face of overwhelming odds, there is still a chance for change.
Overall, At the End of the Day is a powerfully evocative song that speaks to issues of poverty and neglect, and serves as a call to action to fight for change.
Line by Line Meaning
At the end of the day, you're another day older
Each day that passes, you have aged by one day
And that's all you can say for the life of the poor
This is the harsh reality for those living in poverty
It's a struggle, it's a war
Living in poverty is a constant battle
And there's nothing that anyone's giving
There is little to no help or aid available
One more day standing about
Another day is spent doing nothing
What is it for?
What is the purpose or meaning of this existence?
One less day to be living.
One less day to enjoy life
At the end of the day, you're another day colder
Each passing day brings a feeling of isolation, loneliness, and desperation
And the shirt on your back doesn't keep out the chill
Even the most basic clothing is insufficient to keep you warm
And the righteous hurry past
People who are well-off don't give attention to those in need
They don't hear the little ones crying
Children suffer and are neglected
And the winter is coming on fast,
The harshness of winter approaches quickly
Ready to kill
Winter is dangerous and can be fatal
When the heroes are dying.
Even those who fight for change and help are just as vulnerable
At the end of the day, there's another day dawning
Each day there is a ray of hope and possibility
And the sun in the morning is waiting to rise
The day is full of opportunity and beauty
Like the waves crash on the sand
The world is powerful and unpredictable like the sea
Like a storm that'll break any second
There is always the looming threat of disaster
There's a hunger in the land
People are yearning for change and a better life
There's a reckoning still to be reckoned
There is still a price to pay to fix the problems in society
And there's going to be hell to pay
Negative consequences will come for those who don't help or take responsibility
At the end of the day.
This is the reality that everyone must face
At the end of the day, you get nothing for nothing
Rewards and success can only come from effort
Sitting flat on your butt doesn't buy any bread
Being idle and not working leads to hunger and poverty
There are children back at home
Dependents need support and care
And the children have got to be fed
Providing sustenance for dependents is the most pressing concern
And you're lucky to be in a job
Securing employment is a fortunate circumstance
And in a bed
Having a place to sleep is a basic comfort
And we're counting our blessings.
Being grateful for what we have is important
Have you seen how the foreman is fuming today?
The boss is angry and possibly abusive
With his terrible breath and his wandering hands?
He is a disgusting and predatory person
It's because little Fontein won't give him his way
He is punishing an employee who won't comply with his inappropriate desires
Take a look at his trousers, you'll see where he stands.
He is an abuser who is taking advantage of his position of power
Contributed by Bentley D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.