The album also earned the artist a Grammy Award in March 1988 in the category of 'Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male'. In that same year, D'Arby earned three Soul Train Award nominations for 'Male Album of the Year' (from releasing 'Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby'), 'Male Single of the Year' (from releasing "Wishing Well"), and 'Best New Artist'. Receiving immense critical praise for a work that became RIAA certified as mutli-platinum, fans worried that he may have peaked too early, but they found D'Arby determined to continue down his own unique musical path.
D'Arby was born in Manhattan, New York, and he joined the army after leaving college, serving in Elvis Presley's old regiment in Germany. He was formally discharged by the army in 1983 after going absent without leave. While in Germany, he also worked with the group The Touch, releasing an album of material called 'Love On Time' in 1984. That album was later re-issued in 1989 as 'Early Works'.
D'Arby's follow-up studio album, 'Neither Fish Nor Flesh', came out in 1989. It sold over two million copies and earned praise from fans. Many critical reviews, however, were mixed and faulted D'Arby for what they saw as wandering about musically with a purpose, and the artist's acrimonious disputes with his record label grated on him. Note that the album is often alternatively known as 'Neither Fish Nor Flesh: A Soundtrack of Love, Faith, Hope & Destruction',
The expectations placed on D'Arby's shoulders from his early success caused him to undertake some needed soul searching. It took four more years and a move to Los Angeles, California until his next project, 1993's 'Symphony or Damn', was released. Also known as 'Symphony or Damn: Exploring the Tension Inside the Sweetness', the work proved somewhat of a commercial comeback and peaked at #4 on the U.K. album charts while receiving many supportive reviews.
D'Arby had moved into more and more of a musical vibe influenced by gritty rock, often inspired by blues. In 1995, D'Arby released 'Vibrator', which largely followed his previous work in its musical direction. Sadly, his commercial prospects were judged by many critics to be waning.
During the mid-90s, the relations between the artist and his label, Columbia Records, had became strained to the braking point, leading to the artist's departure in 1996. This was followed by four-years on Java Records, during which he recorded an album titled 'Terence Trent D'Arby's Solar Return'. Said work, however, was never released. In 2000, he bought the rights to his unreleased album and left the record company as well as Lippman Entertainment, which was his then-management-team.
In 1999, D'Arby was briefly hired by INXS to replace his friend, late vocalist Michael Hutchence, so the band could play at the opening of facilities for the Sydney Olympics.
In 2001 D'Arby changed his name to Sananda Francesco Maitreya. The same year, he settled in Munich, Germany, and started his own independent record label, Treehouse Pub. The year also marked his first album release in six years, Wildcard (the unreleased "Solar Return"). The album, first available for free through his website, was later released through a one-album distribution deal with Universal Music.
In 2002 Maitreya moved to Milan, Italy, and began working on his next project, Angels & Vampires - Volume I.
In July 2005 Maitreya started working on Angels & Vampires - Volume II, he released chapter after chapter online as soon he finished recording the songs. In April 2006 he released the finished album; again via his website.
Since 2006, Maitreya has released five more studio albums, alongside touring and the release of a few live albums and various live shows to his YouTube channel. In 2020, Maitreya was featured on The Avalanches' single Reflecting Light which would later be on their 'We Will Always Love You' album, later that same year.
Trivia:
D'Arby/Maitreya appeared in in the TV series "Shake, Rattle And Roll" where he played the part of Jackie Wilson. His music has also been included on several movie soundtracks, most notably 1991's Frankie and Johnny.
You Will Pay Tomorrow
Terence Trent D'Arby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Against a whipping hard rain babe
Slaps me like a sheet
Sheets of rain coming down
As I dig my heels deep
In a minefield of muddy water
I hear a voice loud and low
Stays with me wherever I go sayin'
You will pay tomorrow for what
You do today
Accept this as a truth
For old as well as youth
You will pay tomorrow for what
You do today
As sure as you are born
Though you may be weak and torn
As a snake pulls up beside me
Thinking that my name is Eve
My dark side starts to chide me
But I bring him down to his knees
As I close my eyes tight
Deep in meditation
Peaceful sleep evades me
But a low pitched drone invades me sayin'
You will pay tomorrow for what
You do today
Though you run you cannot hide
It's a truth that shall abide sayin'
You will pay tomorrow for what
You do today
It will find you in the morning
A heartache for your warning
As I shake my head twice
Saying I'd rather fight than switch
I was land rich but penny poor
But I couldn't tell which from which
As my kneecaps break the fall
Of my begging for grace and favour
Bell, Book and Candle holds me
But a spellbinding whisper scolds me saying
You will pay tomorrow for what
You do today
Though your vision may be bleary
And your eyes that see may be weary, but
You will pay tomorrow for what
You do today
On your mind it will wear
Ignore it if you dare
As I shed my second skin
Beneath a bullet box roller-coaster
I view my transformation
Through the veil of a jokester
As I gain my second sight
I shed a tear and I shake the crowd
I used to rather be dead than humble
But now I'd rather be dead than proud
You will pay tomorrow for what
You do today
After deep time tossed confusion
I came to my own conclusion that
You will pay tomorrow for what
You do today
Accept this as a notion
As fish breathe in the dirty ocean
The song ‘You Will Pay Tomorrow’ by Terence Trent D'Arby is a cautionary tale about the consequences of actions. The singer is going through a tough time as he walks through a hard rain, slapping him like a sheet. He hears a voice, loud and low, staying wherever he goes, telling him that he will pay tomorrow for what he does today. The chorus repeats this warning, emphasizing that there are consequences for actions, no matter if you are old, young, weak, or strong. He encounters a snake that represents his dark side, reminding him that he may temporarily control it, but he cannot run away from it. The voice warns him again, and the chorus emphasizes once more the importance of accepting this truth.
The singer says that he would rather fight than switch, but he is uncertain of his situation. His kneecaps break his fall as he begs for grace and favor, but he still faces a scolding whisper. He finally sheds his second skin beneath a bullet box roller-coaster, gaining insight and realizing that he would rather be dead than proud, accepting the notion that we will pay tomorrow for what we do today. The song has a fast rhythm with a funky beat, and the chorus is catchy, emphasizing its warning message.
Line by Line Meaning
As I hold my head down
Feeling dejected and defeated
Against a whipping hard rain babe
Confronting harsh circumstances
Slaps me like a sheet
Striking with force
Sheets of rain coming down
A deluge of misfortunes
As I dig my heels deep
Trying to withstand pressure
In a minefield of muddy water
Navigating through obstacles
I hear a voice loud and low
An inner voice guiding
Stays with me wherever I go sayin'
A warning to be mindful
You will pay tomorrow for what
Consequences for one's actions
You do today
Present behavior will determine future outcomes
Accept this as a truth
Recognizing the reality of accountability
For old as well as youth
Applicable to all ages
As sure as you are born
An inevitable outcome
Though you may be weak and torn
Regardless of one's condition
As a snake pulls up beside me
Encountering temptation
Thinking that my name is Eve
A symbol of temptation
My dark side starts to chide me
Inner demons taunting
But I bring him down to his knees
Overcoming temptation
As I close my eyes tight
Seeking inner peace
Deep in meditation
A form of reflection
Peaceful sleep evades me
Worry and anxiety persist
But a low pitched drone invades me sayin'
A reminder of accountability
Though you run you cannot hide
Escaping consequences is futile
It's a truth that shall abide sayin'
A universal reality
It will find you in the morning
Consequences will catch up eventually
A heartache for your warning
Painful regrets for not heeding the warning
As I shake my head twice
Expressing disbelief
Saying I'd rather fight than switch
Preferring to stand up for oneself
I was land rich but penny poor
Having assets but no liquidity
But I couldn't tell which from which
Unable to differentiate
As my kneecaps break the fall
Falling hard
Of my begging for grace and favour
Seeking mercy
Bell, Book and Candle holds me
An occult reference to being controlled
But a spellbinding whisper scolds me saying
A voice of warning
On your mind it will wear
A reminder that will linger
Ignore it if you dare
Choosing to ignore accountability
As I shed my second skin
Undergoing a transformation
Beneath a bullet box roller-coaster
Under extreme pressure
I view my transformation
Reflecting on personal growth
Through the veil of a jokester
Using humor as a coping mechanism
As I gain my second sight
Achieving greater insight
I shed a tear and I shake the crowd
Expressing heartfelt emotion and making a statement
I used to rather be dead than humble
Prioritizing pride over humility
But now I'd rather be dead than proud
Reversing this perspective
After deep time tossed confusion
Following a period of chaos and uncertainty
I came to my own conclusion that
Reaching a personal realization
Accept this as a notion
Acknowledging a perspective
As fish breathe in the dirty ocean
An analogy for accepting harsh realities
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind