The Damned is a punk rock band started in 1976 in London, UK. Despite being… Read Full Bio ↴The Damned is a punk rock band started in 1976 in London, UK. Despite being one of the definitive early punk bands they were also one of the most ambitious; with their later albums moving away from gothic rock to psychedelic rock.

They are notable for being the first of the British punk bands to release a single, put out an album, and tour the United States. Their debut album, Damned Damned Damned, was released six months before The Sex Pistols' debut, Never Mind The Bollocks.

The Damned have dissolved and reformed many times, with singer Dave Vanian remaining the sole constant. They have incorporated many styles in their music, most notably garage rock, psychedelic music, the British theatrical rock of Screaming Lord Sutch and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, and New Romantic.

In addition to serving as inspiration for many of the young bands who created hardcore punk in the US, The Damned are also generally regarded as one of the founders of goth music.

Original members Dave Vanian (David Lett), Captain Sensible (Raymond Burns), and Rat Scabies (Chris Millar) were all members of the semi-legendary Masters of the Backside which included future Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde.

Original guitarist Brian James (Brian Robertson) was a member of the early punk band London SS, a unit that never played live, but whose members later found fame in bands including The Clash and Generation X. Rat Scabies was also tried as the drummer for London SS, but was rejected.

Maintaining the goth connection, between 1996 and 2004 the bass guitarist of the Damned was one-time the Sisters of Mercy / the Sisterhood / Gun Club member Patricia Morrison. Morrison married Dave Vanian in 1996 but left the band after the birth of their daughter Emily. She originally joined the band after bassist Paul Grey was injured during a concert.

Discography:

Damned, Damned, Damned – February 25, 1977 (# 36)
Music For Pleasure – November 18, 1977
Machine Gun Etiquette – November 2, 1979 (# 31)
The Black Album – October 20, 1980 (# 29)
Strawberries – October 1, 1982 (# 15)
Phantasmagoria – July 15, 1985 (# 11)
Anything – December 5, 1986 (# 40)
Not of This Earth – November 11, 1995 (Retitled I'm Alright Jack & The Beanstalk in the UK, Germany and Sweden)
Grave Disorder – August 21, 2001
So, Who's Paranoid? – October 28, 2008
Evil Spirits – April 13, 2018
Darkadelic - April 28, 2023

There'll Come a Day
The Damned Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fear grips your heart and you fight with all your might
Into the distant light you keep your vision bright
And the torch of love is a burning flame
It burns so bright it consumes all pain
And while you hang your head to prey
Fate deals a hand that we all must play

And when the stars go out

The skies have turned to grey
I'm gonna walk on out
Into a brand new day

Schemes and dreams and just a little more
To keep the wolf howling outside your door
And every night every day
I think I'll go go go insane
That I have to win I have to try
I have to hold my head up high

And when the stars go out
The skies have turned to grey
I'm gonna walk on out
Into a brand new day

And the torch of love is a burning flame
It burns so bright it consumes all pain
And while you hang your head to prey
Fate deals a hand that we all must play

And when the stars go out
The skies have turned to grey

I'm gonna walk on out
Into a brand new day

Overall Meaning

The Damned's song There'll Come a Day suggests that even in the darkest moments, someone can find hope and solace in love. The lyrics express the idea that life can be difficult and scary, but there will always be a day when the darkness will be replaced by a new dawn. The song reflects on the challenges that life brings, the need to fight for what is important, and the importance of maintaining hope and faith.

The first verse of the song talks about fighting against fear with all your might and keeping your vision bright. The torch of love, which is a symbol of hope, is introduced in the second line, and it is suggested that love can burn so bright that it can consume pain. The next line talks about the inevitability of fate and the need to play the hand we are dealt.

In the chorus of the song, the lyrics describe a scenario where the stars go out, and the skies turn grey. Despite this darkness, the singer is determined to walk out into a brand new day. The second verse of the song mentions the struggles in life such as keeping the wolf away from the door and the fear of the possibility of going insane. However, even in these tough times, the singer must strive to win, try and hold their head up high.

In conclusion, There'll Come a Day by The Damned sings about overcoming the struggles of life through love and hope. The lyrics imply that despite the odds, one can emerge victorious, and a brand new day will come.

Line by Line Meaning

Fear grips your heart and you fight with all your might
You are afraid, but you use all your strength to overcome it.

Into the distant light you keep your vision bright
You focus on a brighter future, even in the midst of difficulty.

And the torch of love is a burning flame
Love is powerful and intense.

It burns so bright it consumes all pain
Love can heal and make everything better.

And while you hang your head to prey
Even when you feel defeated, you still hold on to hope.

Fate deals a hand that we all must play
Our lives are largely determined by circumstances beyond our control.

And when the stars go out
When everything seems dark and bleak,

The skies have turned to grey
The world is colorless and gloomy.

I'm gonna walk on out
You refuse to be defeated or give up.

Into a brand new day
You believe that there is always hope for a better tomorrow.

Schemes and dreams and just a little more
You are determined to achieve your goals, despite setbacks and difficulties.