Described as "classic UK rock delivered with whiskey vocals", the band have been summarised as possessing a sound akin to the genres of alternative rock and "British traditional rock". Stereophonics' debut album, Word Gets Around, was released in August 1997 and charted at number six in the UK, aided by the singles "Local Boy in the Photograph", "More Life in a Tramps Vest" and "A Thousand Trees". The band reached mainstream success with the release of Performance and Cocktails (and its promotional singles "The Bartender and the Thief", "Just Looking" and "Pick a Part That's New") in 1999 and have achieved a total of ten top-ten singles as well as one number one: "Dakota" (2005). Having sold around 10 million copies worldwide by 2016, Stereophonics are one of the most successful Welsh rock acts. Upon their release of Pull the Pin, they achieved five consecutive UK number one albums.
The band have also been praised for their live performances, which have landed them headlining slots at many of the UK and Ireland's most high-profile music festivals, including Reading and Leeds in 2000, Glastonbury in 2002, V Festival in 2002, the Isle of Wight in 2004 and 2009, Oxegen in 2010, Tramlines Festival and TRNSMT in 2018, and Latitude in 2019. The band is part of the Cardiff music scene.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereophonics
Studio albums
Word Gets Around (1997)
Performance and Cocktails (1999)
Just Enough Education to Perform (2001)
You Gotta Go There to Come Back (2003)
Language. Sex. Violence. Other? (2005)
Pull the Pin (2007)
Keep Calm and Carry On (2009)
Graffiti on the Train (2013)
Keep the Village Alive (2015)
Scream Above the Sounds (2017)
Kind (2019)
Oochya! (2022)
Is Yesterday Tomorrow Today
Stereophonics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Picking up ripped cigarette boxes
Hoping that one remains
Yellow lucky day suck deep and bathe
For the next ten minutes spent coughing
All the pleasures craved
Write down all the things that
You'd like to say
You'd like to change
Write down all the places you'd
Like to stay
Write down anything that you want
Is yesterday, tomorrow, today?
Is nothin' gonna change the way
Cracked rock top wall let the ash to fall
Left alone to wait I've never looked at things
I've liked only things I hate
You're not the first today
Not the softest face
Was there any that you liked
Was there any that you didn't fake?
Write down all the things
That you'd like to be
Write down all the things
That you don't believe
Write down all the places you'd like to see
Write down anything that you want
Is yesterday, tomorrow, today?
Is nothing gonna change the way?
Because everything that's you
And the things that you like to do
And all of the things that are
Come back again
Is yesterday, tomorrow, today?
The lyrics of Stereophonics’ “Is Yesterday Tomorrow Today?” describe the struggles of coping with addiction and the haunting feeling of being stuck in a cycle of self-destructive behavior. With lines like “picking up ripped cigarette boxes” and “yellow lucky day suck deep and bathe,” the song paints a picture of someone desperately searching for a way to escape their reality through substance abuse. The chorus, which asks the question “Is yesterday, tomorrow, today?,” highlights the confusion and lack of direction that often comes with addiction, as well as the feeling of being stuck in a perpetual cycle.
The lyrics also touch on themes of regret and the desire for change. The lines “write down all the things that you’d like to change” and “write down all the places you’d like to stay” suggest a desire for a better life, but at the same time, there is a sense of hopelessness as the question of whether or not anything will change remains unanswered. Through vivid descriptions and powerful imagery, Stereophonics’ “Is Yesterday Tomorrow Today?” captures the feelings of despair and confusion that can come with addiction and the search for a way out.
Line by Line Meaning
It's another way to get through the day
Searching for cigarette boxes is just another way of coping with a mundane routine day.
Picking up ripped cigarette boxes
The singer searches the streets for discarded cigarette boxes.
Hoping that one remains
In hopes of finding a perfectly usable cigarette.
Yellow lucky day suck deep and bathe
The artist savors the moment when they finally find a yellow cigarette and takes a deep drag.
For the next ten minutes spent coughing
But satisfaction doesn't last long as the artist coughs in discomfort.
All the pleasures craved
The singer craves simple pleasures in life.
Write down all the things that You'd like to say
The singer urges listeners to write down their deepest desires and emotions.
Write down all the things that You'd like to change
They encourage listeners to express their need for change and growth.
Write down all the places you'd Like to stay
The artist advises listeners to jot down their ideal destinations in life.
Write down anything that you want
In short, the artist encourages everyone to put their dreams on paper.
Is yesterday, tomorrow, today?
The singer ponders the cyclical nature of life where yesterday, tomorrow, and today may seem the same.
Is nothin' gonna change the way
The cyclical nature of life may make it feel like nothing will ever change.
Cracked rock top wall let the ash to fall
The singer leans against a wall and lets their ashes fall to the ground.
Left alone to wait I've never looked at things
The singer is left alone and begins introspecting on life.
I've liked only things I hate
They realize that they have only liked things they truly are not fond of.
You're not the first today
The artist addresses someone who is simply one of many encounters during the day.
Not the softest face
Though pleasing to look at, the person's face isn't particularly soft or pleasant.
Was there any that you liked
The singer asks if the person encountered throughout the day liked anyone they encountered.
Was there any that you didn't fake?
The singer inquires whether any interaction during the day was genuine and not superficial.
Write down all the things that you'd like to be
The artist advises the listener to write down a list of their aspirations and ideal self.
Write down all the things that you don't believe
The artist encourages people to list down all the things they doubt or do not believe in.
Write down all the places you'd like to see
The artist advises listeners to put down the places they want to visit in their lifetime.
Is yesterday, tomorrow, today?
The singer repeats their earlier question, emphasizing the cyclical nature of time.
Is nothing gonna change the way?
The artist reiterates that sometimes it may feel impossible for anything to change.
Because everything that's you
The singer stresses the importance of self-awareness and identity.
And the things that you like to do
They urge listeners to embrace their hobbies and interests.
And all of the things that are
Finally, the singer encourages listeners to accept everything in their life.
Come back again
Because everything will come back around again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Kelly Jones, Stuart Cable, Richard Mark Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind