These Days
Spencer P. Jones Lyrics


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I woke up this morning aching with pain
Don't think I can work, but I'll try
The car's in the shop so I thumbed all the way
Oh, these days I barely get by

I walked home from work and it rained all the way
My wife left and didn't say why
She laid all our bills on the desk in the hall
Oh, these days I barely get by

Put my only two dollars on my favorite horse
He lost by a nose and I cried
Oh, my boss says come winter, we'll all be laid off
Oh, these days I barely get by

These days I barely get by
I want to give up, lay down and die
Worst of all was when she told me goodbye




Whoa, these days I barely get by
Whoa, these days, one barely gets by

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Spencer P. Jones's song, "These Days," tells the story of a man who is struggling to make ends meet. The opening lines set the tone of the song with the singer expressing physical pain, likely from the stress of his difficult life. The man acknowledges the harsh reality of his situation but still holds out hope as he plans to try to work even though he feels he cannot.


The singer's situation becomes more evident as the song continues. He is without transportation and has to rely on hitchhiking to get around. His wife has left him, leaving him to deal with the bills, which is a significant burden on him. He has to put his last two dollars on a horse race and loses, leading to despair. His boss tells him that the company will be laying off workers, which will likely make things worse for him hard. The man laments the difficulties of the present time, barely getting by, and contemplates the possibility of giving up and dying.


"These Days" is a song that captures the struggles of a man who is living through challenging times. It speaks to the struggles and pain that many people experience in their lives. Despite its sad tone, the song carries a message of resilience and hope, encouraging its listeners not to give up in the face of adversity.


Line by Line Meaning

I woke up this morning aching with pain
I woke up feeling physically distressed


Don't think I can work, but I'll try
I'm unsure if I'm able to work, but willing to attempt it


The car's in the shop so I thumbed all the way
My car is being repaired, so I hitchhiked instead


Oh, these days I barely get by
I'm struggling to make ends meet


I walked home from work and it rained all the way
It was raining during my entire walk home from work


My wife left and didn't say why
My spouse abandoned me without giving me an explanation


She laid all our bills on the desk in the hall
She left me with all the bills to pay on my own


Put my only two dollars on my favorite horse
I gambled my last two dollars on a horse race


He lost by a nose and I cried
My horse came close to winning but lost, and I was devastated


Oh, my boss says come winter, we'll all be laid off
My employer informed me that layoffs are imminent


These days I barely get by
My financial situation is precarious


I want to give up, lay down and die
I feel overwhelmed and hopeless


Worst of all was when she told me goodbye
The most painful experience was when my spouse left me


Whoa, these days I barely get by
My current circumstances are challenging


Whoa, these days, one barely gets by
Many people are struggling to make ends meet these days




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: GEORGE JONES, TAMMY WYNETTE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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