Walter is a musician, singer, composer, writer, artist and sculptor who is … Read Full Bio ↴Walter is a musician, singer, composer, writer, artist and sculptor who is most widely known for his 1978 million-selling single record, "Magnet and Steel," featured on his album Not Shy (Columbia).

Twenty-five years later, Walter's signature song is a staple on the radio, and can also be heard in feature films and on television. Meanwhile, he has continued to make original music as both a prolific individual artist, with a total of eight solo CDs to his credit, and as a member of performing and recording bands including the Malibooz and the Brooklyn Cowboys.

Today, Walter Egan continues to write, produce, and record new music (check out his two new songs in the MP3 downloads section below) and perform live around Nashville and nationally.

Better Days
Walter Egan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

By Walter Egan

All too soon you're movin' on,
Word came down yesterday
It hurts to know my old friends is gone
Its hard to know what to say

I can still hear your voice

You always could make me laugh
Now I can' believe it's true
Is everything in the past

What can save us, what can hold us
Or can keep us from blowing away
Restless hearts, we were
Oh so young back in our better days

Time's been long but time's so short
It's a mystery passing by
Still I wonder in my heart
Where do we go when we die?

Chorus

Overall Meaning

The song "Better Days" by Walter Egan expresses his sadness and disbelief over the passing of an old friend. Egan reminisces about their youth and the good times they had together, but now that his friend is gone, he wonders what can save them from drifting apart and how they can hold onto the memories they shared. He describes their youth as "better days," implying that as they got older, life became more complicated and less carefree. Egan laments the passing of time and the mystery of death, questioning where we go when we die.

The lyrics of "Better Days" are relatable to anyone who has lost a dear friend or loved one. Egan captures the sense of nostalgia and melancholy that often accompany such a loss. His use of imagery, such as the metaphor of restless hearts, adds depth and emotion to the lyrics, conveying a sense of longing and yearning for the past. The chorus repeats the phrase "Oh so young back in our better days," emphasizing the theme of youth and the passage of time.

Line by Line Meaning

All too soon you're movin' on,
You left too soon and it's hard to accept.

Word came down yesterday
I received news yesterday.

It hurts to know my old friends is gone
It's painful to know that my friend is dead.

Its hard to know what to say
I don't know what to say in this situation.

I can still hear your voice
I can remember the sound of your voice.

You always could make me laugh
You had a great sense of humor.

Now I can' believe it's true
I still can't believe you're gone.

Is everything in the past
Is everything we shared now just a memory?

What can save us, what can hold us
What can keep us together and stop us from falling apart?

Or can keep us from blowing away
What can keep us grounded and prevent us from losing ourselves?

Restless hearts, we were
Our hearts were never content and always yearning for something more.