The Day After Tomorrow
The Whippersnappers Lyrics


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This house will be your prison until the morning light
Comes to free with feeling of uncertainty
We may never know what we might have been
But at least you saved yourself from the anxiety
You've memorized your lines so well
Well I guess I've learned to play my part
With a certain subtle ease
Concentrate on television, sleeping pills, or lying still
But I have to know the cause if I'm to cure the disease

Recess, reach the edge of consummation
Without warning turn and walk away
Recess, past the point of consolation
With a warning turn and walk away
Turn and walk away
But I have to know the cause if I'm to cure the disease
Have to know the cause, have to know the cause

Recess, reach the edge of consummation
Without warning turn and walk away
Recess, past the point of consolation
With a warning turn and walk away
Learn and walk away




This is resignation, I resign myself not even to try
This is hesitation and I know it will never satisfy

Overall Meaning

The Whippersnappers' song "The Day After Tomorrow" is a haunting and introspective look at the uncertainty and resignation that can come with relationships. The opening line, "This house will be your prison until the morning light," sets the stage for a sense of being trapped and powerless. The singer knows that they are unable to change the situation they are in, and must wait for morning to come and free them from their mental imprisonment.


The second line, "Comes to free with feeling of uncertainty," speaks to the singer's awareness that even once they are free, they will still be left with a sense of not knowing what to do or where to go. The reference to "what we might have been" implies regret and a sense of missed opportunities.


When the singer says, "You've memorized your lines so well, well I guess I've learned to play my part," it suggests a kind of acting or performance that is taking place within the relationship. This line also highlights a power dynamic, where one person has more control over the situation than the other. The line "Concentrate on television, sleeping pills, or lying still" speaks to the various coping mechanisms that people use to deal with difficult situations.


The repetition of "recess" and the lines "With a warning turn and walk away / Turn and walk away" in the chorus suggest a desire to escape from the situation entirely. The final lines, "This is resignation, I resign myself not even to try / This is hesitation and I know it will never satisfy," indicate a sense of finality and acceptance of defeat.


Line by Line Meaning

This house will be your prison until the morning light
You are stuck in a life that may feel like a prison but waiting for hope and change might help you find a way out.


Comes to free with feeling of uncertainty
When the hope and change arrive, they may come with doubt, unsure of what they may bring.


We may never know what we might have been
There are many possibilities in life that we may never be able to explore or realize.


But at least you saved yourself from the anxiety
Although there are missed opportunities in life, at least you did not have to face the anxiety of making the wrong choices.


You've memorized your lines so well
You have become accustomed to living your life a certain way, without much variation or spontaneity.


Well I guess I've learned to play my part
I have also learned how to live the life that has been given to me, without much thought to changing it.


With a certain subtle ease
We have become so comfortable with our lives that it almost seems seamless, without much effort.


Concentrate on television, sleeping pills, or lying still
We distract ourselves from the monotony of our life by binging on TV, taking medication, or simply doing nothing.


But I have to know the cause if I'm to cure the disease
In order to make a meaningful change in our lives, we need to understand the root of the problem and work towards fixing it.


Recess, reach the edge of consummation
We have reached a point in our lives where things feel stagnant, as if we have exhausted all available options.


Without warning turn and walk away
We need to be able to make drastic changes in our lives without hesitation or fear.


Recess, past the point of consolation
Once we have passed the point of finding comfort in our situation, we need to be able to recognize that it is time to move on.


With a warning turn and walk away
As we make these changes, we will feel a sense of warning or caution, but we need to push forward regardless.


But I have to know the cause if I'm to cure the disease
Despite any fear or uncertainty, we still need to understand and address the root of our problems in order to truly move forward.


Have to know the cause, have to know the cause
Emphasizing the importance of understanding the root cause of our problems before we can work towards a solution.


Learn and walk away
By leaving behind our old lives and making a change, we will be able to learn and grow in new ways.


This is resignation, I resign myself not even to try
We must avoid resigning ourselves to a stagnant and unsatisfying life, as we will never make progress if we do not try.


This is hesitation and I know it will never satisfy
Hesitation and fear of change will always hold us back and prevent us from finding true happiness and fulfillment.




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ANDY MUNN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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