Better Times
The Black Sorrows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see another Golden Age dying
And outside in the city streets
A Christian soul is singing words of warning
So many things been going down
Jesus Christ sometimes I feel like I'm immobilised
'Cause we're living in this stormy world
And the ties of love seem to be unwinding
When there's nothin' to hold on to
And there's no one there to comfort you
If you believe
There's better times ahead
There's better days (yeah, yeah)
Now cryin' it don't count for much
When you're crippled in your soul
You gotta take the hope from deep within
To be lifted up and turned around (yeah, yeah)
And all the people will
All the people will hear the callin'
'Cause we're livin' in this stormy world
And the ties of love seem to be unwinding
Just be guided by the things you are
Don't hold back, don't hold back
If you believe
There's better times ahead
There's better days (yeah, yeah)
I look up and the stars don't shine
And down here another Golden Age is dyin'
And outside in the city streets
A Christian soul is singing words of warning
So many things been going down
Jesus Christ sometimes I feel like I am immobilised
'Cause we're living in this stormy world
And the ties of love seem to be unwinding
When there's nothin' to hold on to
And there's no one there to comfort you
(J. Camilleri L. Polec – Mushroom Music Publishing Orient Pacific)
The Black Sorrows’s song “Better Times” talks about the struggles of living in a chaotic and stormy world where people feel immobilized and isolated. The song begins with the sinking evening sun as a metaphor for another Golden Age dying. Outside, a Christian soul sings words of warning, possibly referring to a preacher warning people of the upcoming storm. The ties of love, the connection between human beings, seem to be unwinding, and people feel lost and alone. Despite the chaos, the song offers hope that there are better days ahead. People must take the hope from within to be lifted up and turned around. The singer urges people to be guided by the things they are and not to hold back. The song ends with the repetition of the stanza about the sinking Golden Age and the Christian soul singing a warning, emphasizing the severity and urgency of the situation.
The song “Better Times” was released in 1986 on The Black Sorrows’s album “Hold on to Me.”
The song was written by Joe Camilleri and Leonard Polec and was published by Mushroom Music Publishing Orient Pacific.
The song features Joe Camilleri on vocals and saxophone, Jeff Burstin on guitar, James Black on keyboards, Wayne Duncan on bass guitar, and Peter Luscombe on drums.
“Better Times” was a hit in Australia, reaching number 14 on the ARIA chart.
The song was covered by Australian singer-songwriter Colin Hay in 2003 for his album “Man @ Work.”
Joe Camilleri was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 2007.
Joe Camilleri is the founding member of The Black Sorrows and has been in the Australian music industry for over 50 years, known for his eclectic mix of genres, including R&B, soul, and rock.
“Better Times” has been used in various Australian films and TV shows, including the film “Paperback Hero” and the TV series “Love Child” and “Upper Middle Bogan.”
The Black Sorrows have released 18 studio albums, with Joe Camilleri performing on all of them.
The chords for “Better Times” are D, G, A, Bm for the verses, and G, A, D for the chorus.
Line by Line Meaning
As the evening sun comes, sinking down
The end of the day is approaching
I see another Golden Age dying
The end of a prosperous era is happening
And outside in the city streets
The scene is set in an urban area
A Christian soul is singing words of warning
A religious person is preaching a message of caution
So many things been going down
There have been many negative events happening
Jesus Christ sometimes I feel like I'm immobilised
The singer feels helpless in face of adversity
'Cause we're living in this stormy world
The world is a difficult place
And the ties of love seem to be unwinding
The bonds of affection are becoming weaker
When there's nothin' to hold on to
In times of difficulty and turmoil
And there's no one there to comfort you
When there is no emotional support
If you believe
But if you have faith
There's better times ahead
Belief in a brighter future
There's better days (yeah, yeah)
Hope for better tomorrow
Now cryin' it don't count for much
Weeping alone won't address the problem
When you're crippled in your soul
When you feel powerless and overwhelmed
You gotta take the hope from deep within
You must find strength and optimism from within
To be lifted up and turned around (yeah, yeah)
To change your situation for the better
And all the people will
Everyone will
All the people will hear the callin'
Everyone will hear the message
'Cause we're livin' in this stormy world
The world is a chaotic and unstable place
And the ties of love seem to be unwinding
The bonds of affection are becoming weaker
Just be guided by the things you are
Stay true to yourself
Don't hold back, don't hold back
Don't hesitate
I look up and the stars don't shine
The artist is disappointed by the lack of hope
And down here another Golden Age is dyin'
Another era of prosperity is ending
When there's nothin' to hold on to
In times of difficulty and turmoil
And there's no one there to comfort you
When there is no emotional support
(J. Camilleri L. Polec – Mushroom Music Publishing Orient Pacific)
Songwriting credits
Contributed by Sophia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.