not today
Ruby Red Lyrics
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With the hungry sign today
Starin' down
The one who got away
Hey man, you ain't gonna
Guilt me that way
Not today
That helps itself I say
Can't imagine what it takes
To stay that way
So stop pretendin'
Everything's gonna be ok
Not today
So I'm standin'
On the other side
While you're lookin'
For a free ride around
I keep thinking'
That you're lost
But then you're found
Just hangin' around
So tip your hat
To the man
Then run
As fast as you can
Spin your wheels
Around and around
And around
Your feet
Won't fail you now
Get it together
Saw the man
With the hungry sign
Again today
Found a different corner
For the games he plays
Brought a dog along
Just for extra pay
It's hot
I'm callin' the S.P.C.A.
'Cause while you're standin'
On the other side
We ain't lookin'
For a free ride from you
And you know
That it's the little things
That you do
But not today
'Cause you're still standin'
On the other side
Why can't you see
That there's
No free ride around?
I keep thinkin'
That you're lost
But then you're found
Just hangin' around
Saw the man
With the hungry sign today
Flippin' off
The one who got away
In Ruby Red's song "Not Today", the singer encounters a man with a sign asking for money. The singer refuses to be guilted into giving him money, as it is not his responsibility to help someone who won't help themselves. Instead, the singer calls for the man to take responsibility for his own life and stop relying on others for support. The song touches on themes of self-determination, personal responsibility, and empathy, as the singer acknowledges the struggles faced by others while insisting that they take charge of their own lives.
The repeated line "not today" serves as a powerful and evocative refrain, reinforcing the singer's firmness and refusal to be swayed. The song's use of vivid imagery, such as "cold night air" and "hungry sign", adds to its impact and makes it easy for listeners to visualize the scene. The inclusion of the S.P.C.A demonstrates the need to care for those who are vulnerable in society, whether they be human or animal.
Line by Line Meaning
Saw the man
I saw a homeless person begging for help on the street
With the hungry sign today
He was holding a sign asking for food or money to buy food
Starin' down
He looked sad and hopeless, like he had lost something important
The one who got away
Maybe he had missed a chance or an opportunity that he regrets now
Hey man, you ain't gonna
I refuse to let you
Guilt me that way
Make me feel guilty or responsible for your situation
Not today
I won't let you affect me today
Help the hand
I believe in helping those who help themselves
That helps itself I say
People who are willing to work hard and find a solution to their problems are more deserving of help than those who don't try
Can't imagine what it takes
I can't imagine how difficult it must be to live in poverty and struggle to survive
To stay that way
To stay in a state of neediness and dependence on others
So stop pretendin'
Stop pretending that everything is going to be alright without making an effort
Everything's gonna be ok
It won't be if you don't do anything to change it
Not today
I won't accept empty promises today
So I'm standin'
I am in a different position compared to you
On the other side
I have a different perspective on the situation because I am not in the same predicament as you are
While you're lookin'
You are searching for an easy way out
For a free ride around
You are hoping for someone to come and solve your problems without any effort from your part
I keep thinkin'
I am unsure whether to trust you or not
That you're lost
You seem to be without a direction or purpose
But then you're found
Maybe you have a hidden agenda or you are trying to deceive others
Just hangin' around
You are not really taking action to get out of your situation
So tip your hat
Show respect to the other person
To the man
To the homeless person who asked for help
Then run
Then leave as soon as possible
As fast as you can
As if you were afraid he would ask for more
Spin your wheels
Waste your time and energy on fruitless endeavors
Around and around
Going in circles without making any progress
Your feet
You might be physically moving away, but you are not getting anywhere
Won't fail you now
You are relying on your ability to escape without being caught, but you are not trying to improve your situation
Saw the man
I saw the same homeless person asking for help again
With the hungry sign
His sign was still asking for food or money
Again today
He was still in the same situation as before
Found a different corner
He had moved to a different location to ask for help
For the games he plays
Maybe he was pretending to be homeless or exaggerating his need for help
Brought a dog along
He had a dog with him, which might attract more sympathy or attention from people passing by
Just for extra pay
Maybe he was exploiting the dog by using it to get more money or food from strangers
It's hot
The weather was hot and uncomfortable
I'm callin' the S.P.C.A.
I am going to report this to the animal welfare authorities
'Cause while you're standin'
While you are still staying there, not doing anything to improve your situation
We ain't lookin'
We, the people who are able and willing to help, are not interested in supporting you anymore
And you know
You are aware of it, but you still refuse to change your ways
That it's the little things
Small, everyday actions and decisions are what make a difference in our lives
That you do
Your attitude and behavior are what keep you in this difficult situation
But not today
Today is not the day when you get away with it
'Cause you're still standin'
You are still there, not doing anything to help yourself
Why can't you see
Why don't you realize that your current approach is not working?
That there's
There is a reality that you are not acknowledging
No free ride around?
You have to work hard and make some sacrifices to get ahead in life
I keep thinkin'
I am still unsure whether to trust you or not
That you're lost
You are still without a clear goal or plan of action
But then you're found
Maybe you will eventually find your way out of this situation, but you need to take responsibility for yourself first
Just hangin' around
You are not doing anything to move forward, just waiting for someone else to solve your problems
Contributed by Elena C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.