Well I've been out walking,
I don't do that much talking
These days, These days.

These days I seem to think a lot
about the things that I forgot to do,
for you.
And all the times I had the chance to.

And I had a lover,
but it's so hard to risk another,
These days, these days.

Now if I seem to be afraid
to live the life that I have made
in song.
Well it's just that I've been losing
for so long.

Well I'll keep on moving (moving on)
Things are bound to be improving
These days, One of these days.

These days I'll sit on cornerstones
and count the time in quarter tones
to ten,
my friend.
Don't confront me with my failures,
I have not forgotten them.


Lyrics submitted by hourafterdark

These Days song meanings
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20 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    this song is so simple.....yet so profound. he knows he has done bad things in his life, and he is getting it back in the ass. Also i think he has suffered from heartbreak one too many times, and so he is not sure if he wants to even try to look for someone. He regrets the things he did, and didnt get a chance to do. but the best part of the song is right at the end, "Don't confront me with my failures, I have not forgotten them." He knows what he did wrong, so he doesnt need to be told. I know thats how i feel for a lot fo things i do wrong.

    Empirer85on July 24, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    jackson browne is probably the most amazing songwriter i know of. and it's not about darryl hannah or nico. he wrote it when he was 16.

    roman_candleon January 24, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Correct. He was 16 and at that age it doesn't seem like he could have lived enough years for all that emotion. Just goes to show you how incredibly smart and in tune this man truly is. There's a version of this song by Ian Matthews, which I think is on his album, "Some Days You Eat The Bear". Both are beautiful.

    acahill1962on May 17, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song wasn't written for or about Nico. he wrote it when he was 16, that was 1964, Jackson hadn't met Nico and Nico probably hadn't even left Europe yet.

    7and7ison July 05, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Seeing as the song was on the "Saturate Before Using" album in 1972, when Darryl Hannah was 12 years old, and was written in 1965 when she was 5, and he most definitely hadn't even met her, it is impossible for the song to have anything to do with her.

    It is quite a mature song of regret and accepting blame for one's actions for such a young writer (as he was at the time). Always been one of my favorites.

    mmagliaroon May 27, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    so, it was really hard finding this song, because i had no idea jackson browne did it... but i heard a cover of it by mates of state... which is an awesome song... check it out on the wicker park soundtrack... the lyrics are slightly diff, but it's excellent.

    hoydenon October 04, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    he said that it was written at sixteen in an interview. as we were all sixteen once, we all can attest to the fact that sixteen year olds can be a little over dramatic. i picture the situation being this: it is after his first real heartbreak, and he is scared. he doesn't want it to happen again, and really who can blame him? my first major heartbreak happened at sixteen, and i remember saying i would never get involved in all of that ever again, and i think that it is commonplace for the teenage years in general. those times are full of firsts, and everyone gets scared and worried. sure some of the lines are quite lovely, but by no means does all of this mean that it is too profound for a sixteen year old to write.

    brittanyclimbstreeson December 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    after rereading that it kind of sounds like i am bashing the song, but really it is one of my favourites.

    brittanyclimbstreeson December 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Unless he met Daryll Hannah at 16 (which I highly doubt) then it isn't about her.

    aic22on January 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's about his girlfriend who jumped outt he window

    austyncastellion November 02, 2008   Link

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