Zager & Evans are only known for their immensely popular song In the Year 2525 (Exordium And Terminus), written by Rick Evans. It hit number one on the UK chart in 1969. Coincidentally, it was number one on 20 July 1969 in USA, the date of the first manned moon landing by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, and spent six weeks on the Billboard Top 40. It was nominated for a special Hugo Award that same year.
The band signed with RCA records, who claimed they were "The Next Big Thing", but follow-up singles, such as "Mr. Turnkey", went unnoticed by the public.
Less Than Tomorrow
Zager & Evans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But less than a night of sleep
A little more than a dream
But less than a vision
She was my queen
Even if I was in prison
Now she croons to a thieve
While I go on livin'
She's more than a whisper but less than a word
More than a whisper but less than a word
A little more than a blink
And less than a dream
This April wasn't green
A little more purple it seems
A little less than a blink
But her face still agleam
I wish we'd lasted til spring
But it was cold when she leaped
She was more than a whisper but less than a word
More than a whisper but less than a word
A little less than a vision
But more than a picture
A representation
Of uninterpreted scripture
The train by the lake
Refused my reflection
I could be awake
Through my mother's rejection
More than a whisper less than a word
The lyrics to the song Less Than Tomorrow by Zager & Evans describe a relationship that has ended, leaving the singer with a sense of loss and yearning. The person he was with was more than just a fleeting thought, but less than a profound vision or lasting commitment. Despite their connection, circumstances have driven them apart, and now she sings to a thief while he carries on living without her. He remembers her in fleeting moments, more than just a whisper, but not quite a complete word.
Throughout the song, the singer uses comparisons to illustrate the elusive nature of their time together. His memories of her are like a blink of an eye or a dream, but not quite as substantial. He laments that their time ended before it could fully blossom, but even as he mourns the loss, he recognizes that their connection was not entirely real. She was more than a mere word or thought to him, but still not quite as tangible as a true life partner. The song evokes a feeling of bittersweet nostalgia for something that was never fully realized.
Line by Line Meaning
A little longer than a blink
It was a very short amount of time, not even a second.
But less than a night of sleep
It was shorter than a normal period of rest, which is usually a night's sleep.
A little more than a dream
It was like a dream, but it seemed more real than that.
But less than a vision
It wasn't as clear and vivid as a vision.
She was my queen
She was the most important and cherished person in my life.
Even if I was in prison
Even if I was locked up, she was still my queen and I loved her.
Now she croons to a thief
Now she sings to a criminal, which could represent betrayal or moving on.
While I go on livin'
While I continue to live my life without her, but still holding onto my memories of her.
She's more than a whisper but less than a word
She's more than just a mere sound, but less than a fully developed expression.
A little more than a blink
It was just slightly longer than a blink of the eye.
And less than a dream
It wasn't as substantial or meaningful as a dream.
This April wasn't green
The month of April wasn't filled with growth and new beginnings.
A little more purple it seems
The singer is using creative imagery to describe the colors of the month, suggesting sadness or mourning.
A little less than a blink
It was even shorter than their previous experience, which was just a little longer than a blink.
But her face still agleam
Despite the brevity of their time together, the memory of her face still shines clearly in their mind.
I wish we'd lasted til spring
The artist wishes their relationship had lasted until a time of renewal and rebirth.
But it was cold when she leaped
But instead, she left during a time of bleakness and despair.
A little less than a vision
It wasn't quite as clear or detailed as a vision would be.
But more than a picture
It was more significant and meaningful than just simply viewing a picture.
A representation
It represented something deeper and more complex than just its surface-level appearance.
Of uninterpreted scripture
It was something that could be interpreted in a variety of ways and held personal significance to the artist.
The train by the lake
A location that holds personal significance to the artist.
Refused my reflection
The singer is rejected by their own reflection, which could be a metaphor for self-doubt or self-discovery.
I could be awake
The artist is alert and aware of their surroundings.
Through my mother's rejection
Even through the pain of being rejected by their mother, the singer is still able to remain aware.
More than a whisper less than a word
It's something that's not easily defined, something that's not quite tangible and yet still holds significance.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Evan Flick
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Harry
on Cary Lynn Javes
Love this gem. Memories of 1969.