Barry was listed on the credits as co-writer and producer, and the initial release of the song was his version. A second version of the song, re-worked by a-ha in 1988, later appeared on their third album, Stay on These Roads.
The Living Daylights
a‐ha Lyrics
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I swear my nerves are showing
Set your hopes up way too high
The living's in the way we die
Comes the morning and the headlights fade away
Hundred thousand people, I'm the one they blame
I've been waiting long for one of us to say
Ah, ah, the living daylights
Ah, ah, the living daylights
All right, hold on tight now
It's down, down to the wire
Set your hopes way too high
The living's in the way we die
Comes the morning and the headlights fade away
Hundred thousand changes, everything's the same
I've been waiting long for one of us to say
Save the darkness, let it never fade away
Ah, ah, the living daylights
Ah, ah, the living daylights
Ah, ah, the living daylights
Comes the morning and the headlights fade away
Hundred thousand people, I'm the one they frame
Ah, ah, the living daylights
Ah, ah, the living daylights
Ah, ah, the living daylights
Set your hopes up way too high
The living's in the way we die
The Living Daylights is a song by Norwegian band a-ha, released as the theme song for the 15th James Bond movie of the same name in 1987. The lyrics of the song touch on the idea of the inevitability of death, and how the way we choose to live our lives is what matters most. The opening lines of the song include the line "Hey driver, where we're going? I swear my nerves are showing", which can be interpreted as the singer feeling nervous about the uncertain future and what fate has in store for them.
The chorus of the song goes "The Living Daylights", which refers to the idea of living life to the fullest, despite the inevitability of death. The line "Set your hopes up way too high, the living's in the way we die" could be interpreted as the idea that we must set high expectations for ourselves and try to reach our goals, because the journey is what matters most. The song includes imagery of headlights fading away and hundreds of thousands of people, which may be a metaphor for the fleeting nature of life and how we must seize every moment.
In conclusion, The Living Daylights is a song that reminds us to make the most of our lives, despite the inevitability of death. We must set high goals for ourselves and try to live life to the fullest, because the journey is what matters most.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey driver, where we're going?
The singer is anxious about their destination and seeks reassurance from the driver.
I swear my nerves are showing
The singer is feeling nervous and overwhelmed in their current situation.
Set your hopes up way too high
The singer is warning someone that they have unrealistic expectations.
The living's in the way we die
The artist is suggesting that people get too caught up in the material world and forget to truly live.
Comes the morning and the headlights fade away
The artist is referencing the fragility of life and how quickly things can change.
Hundred thousand people, I'm the one they blame
The singer feels like they are being unfairly singled out for something that many others are responsible for.
I've been waiting long for one of us to say
The singer has been hoping for someone to take action or speak up about a certain issue.
Save the darkness, let it never fade away
The artist wants to hold on to the mysterious, unknown aspects of life and not let everything be illuminated by the light.
Ah, ah, the living daylights
This repeated phrase could be interpreted as a celebration of life or a reminder of its fleeting nature.
All right, hold on tight now
The artist is urging someone to brace themselves for what's to come.
It's down, down to the wire
The situation is reaching a critical point and time is running out.
Hundred thousand changes, everything's the same
Although many things may appear to be different, the fundamental issues remain unchanged.
Hundred thousand people, I'm the one they frame
The singer feels like they are being set up or unjustly accused of something.
Set your hopes way too high
The singer is again cautioning against having unrealistic expectations.
The living's in the way we die
This line is repeated twice to emphasize the idea that people get so caught up in the present and the tangible that they forget about the bigger picture and what truly matters.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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