The band was lead by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ian Bruce-Douglas and released three albums over the course of its career: "Ultimate Spinach" (1968), "Behold & See" (1968) and "Ultimate Spinach III" (1969).
Their debut album was the most successful of all the "Bosstown Sound" LPs released by MGM, reaching #35 on the Billboard 200 and selling over 100,000 copies. Myers and Lahteinen had left the group by the time of their second album, and Russell Levine (drums) and Carol Lee Britt (vocals) were added to the lineup. Winthrop departed shortly thereafter and was replaced by guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, later a member of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers. Bruce-Douglas quit the band in late 1968, and leadership of the group passed onto Hudson and Baxter, who re-formed Ultimate Spinach with a completely different lineup aside from the two of them. The new lineup released the third Ultimate Spinach album in 1969, and disbanded shortly after its release.
Some Days You Just Can't Win
Ultimate Spinach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes the word is outside in
The cold of fortunes frozen rain
Has left us numb and not too sane
And led us back the way we came
Some days you just can't win
Some days you just can't win
Some days you might as well just...
the stars will cast it back at you
Beneith its gemini disguise
The moon is peeking through your eyes
You laugh until you realize
Some days you just can't win
Some days you just can't win
Some days you might as well just...
Sometimes we have a chance to try our luck
and gamble life, at any cost
Then, though the crown of glory has a price
It can't repay for what is lost
If you take the time you'll find
Your fate and mine's within your reach
Each time we search beyond ourselves
Depend on things that don't work out
And say that's all that life's about
Before the light within
I think you will soon begain
to find it all fits in
Good Luck
I hope you make it
The lyrics to "Some Days You Just Can't Win" by Ultimate Spinach describes the hardships and challenges in life that can leave us feeling defeated and overwhelmed. The song reflects on the unpredictability of life, as the words suggest that sometimes our fate is predetermined and that certain days, no matter how much effort we put in, it seems like everything goes wrong.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of blaming outside factors for our misfortunes. The lines "cast the blame up at the stars, the stars will cast it back at you" suggests that sometimes we look for external reasons for our failings when, in reality, the responsibility lies with us.
The song ends on a hopeful note with the lines "before the light within, I think you will soon begin to find it all fits in. Good Luck, I hope you make it." It reflects the belief that despite the struggles we face, there is always the potential for growth and redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
Please don't take it so hard
Don't be too upset
Sometimes the word is outside in
Sometimes external circumstances affect us internally
The cold of fortunes frozen rain
The harshness of unfavorable circumstances
Has left us numb and not too sane
We feel emotionally detached and overwhelmed
And led us back the way we came
We often find ourselves back where we started
Some days you just can't win
Some days are harder than others
Some days you might as well just...
Some days it's better to give up
Cast the blame up at the stars
Blame fate or the universe
the stars will cast it back at you
You can't control everything
Beneith its gemini disguise
The moon's dual nature
The moon is peeking through your eyes
You may hide your emotions, but they're still visible
You laugh until you realize
You may joke, but reality hits
Sometimes we have a chance to try our luck
Sometimes we have opportunities
and gamble life, at any cost
Taking risks can come with a price
Then, though the crown of glory has a price
Success may not provide complete satisfaction
It can't repay for what is lost
Material things can't replace emotional losses
If you take the time you'll find
You have to look deeper to understand
Your fate and mine's within your reach
Our destiny is in our control
Each time we search beyond ourselves
When we look outside ourselves for answers
Depend on things that don't work out
Relying on unstable things leads to disappointment
And say that's all that life's about
Declaring that life is unsatisfactory
Before the light within
Before you recognize the truth
I think you will soon begain
I believe you will start to understand
to find it all fits in
Everything falls into place
Good Luck
Best wishes for success
I hope you make it
I hope you succeed
Contributed by Ruby V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.