This Is the Day

Song MeaningThe song describes a sleepless night of self reflection: bloodshot eyes, lack of motivation except think about how terrible you and your existence is, the empty promises you'll never hold yourself to and the wonder of daylight and the sun burning into your eyes. Your hormone levels yo-yo like crazy, your blood sugar hits the floor and you'll eventually pass out, wake up, never change. Been there, done that, and more than once.

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General CommentAs many people have hit on, this song seems to be all about nostalgia.

The point of view strikes me as a person who has the epiphany that he is closer to the end than the beginning (which might prompt the beginning of a mid life crisis) of his life. I don't think the man is excessively rich, but according to his "friend and family" he is well off. Regardless of any accomplishments, he has been waiting for something (or someone) and, while many seem to think this song is optimistic, I think that the statement that "this is the day your life will surely change" is filled with facetiousness.

He has finally realized, which is why the lack of sleep, that that time is past and that it's not going to happen. He is not young anymore and his dream(s) are going to remain just that. This could be a possible reference to the plane. He can see what it is (in his mind), but it is too far away to actually touch it.

I find the placement of this track to on the album, just after 'I've been Waiting for Tomorrow (All of My Life)' to be very telling. In that track he was in young adulthood and waiting for life to start and for this thing to happen. It was always going to happen tomorrow. In this song that thing has not yet happened and he realizes that tomorrow is now yesterday.

As for the upbeat tune of the song, I think it is a purposeful counterpoint to the depressing nature of the lyrics. (e.g. 'Girlfriend in a Coma' by the Smiths.)

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General CommentThis is my favorite song of all time.
In fact, I registered on the site so I could comment on it.
I too picture this is about a seemingly successful man, pining for the days of his youth, and the things money can't buy. Which I always interpreted as love. And not neccessarily as in sexual love, but simply the love of family and friends.
And yet, he begins the day with the positive affirmation that This is the Day. He's going to do something about making the change in his life to get those relationships back.

And if anyone can name another song featuring the piano accordian, I will be very impressed.

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General CommentSee, I always thought of this song as a sad one. I love it, but I feel like it is more about missed oppertunities and failing to live up to your potential. Telling yourself "This is the day things will change", but they never do because you have to go out and make it change, not wait for it. At least that is always how I thought of this song.

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General CommentThis song is one about opportuinities lost. The segment sampled in the TV ad is a cheery one. I used to think it was an uplifting song until I heard the entire thing. It's sad, because it makes you think about what could've been, but never ended up happening.

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General CommentThis is one of my absolute favorite songs, like top 3 or 4. I'm always torn about whether it's optimistic and pessimistic, and I think that it's about a false sense of optimism, meaning someone resolving and hoping yet again to break out of a rut, but knowing deep down that he won't make it. His memories are the only thing keeping his life together. He's wasting the days away in the dark and alone, thinking about what might have been. That's my doom-and-gloom take on it.

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My Interpretation"Well you didn't wake up this morning 'cause you didn't go to bed..." Much of the song describes hitting bottom, but there's that moment when "You watch a plane flying across a clear blue sky," and it is exactly then that the chorus cuts in with "This Is The Day, your life will surely change." Whenever the lyrics pore over the loss and the sadness, we come back to this line, and its companion, "This is the day when things fall into place."

Now it could be that those lines are sung with irony -- there's no insight, no escape, no hope, just the illusion of it. But I don't buy it. One of the reasons is the music itself. It's in a major key, and the accordion part sounds like something falling into place, not something limping along, out of whack.

They say you have to hit bottom before you can come back. It sounds to me like the singer is reflecting your feelings back to you, the feeling that you have had enough of burning bridges and chasing illusory pleasures. Today you finally realize it's all empty and now you know which way to go -- with the plane, taking the high road back home. But the melancholy accordion says it's not another case of getting high. This time, it's just getting things right.

This is a song of redemption.

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My InterpretationI think I may have found the final word on the interpretation of "This Is The Day." It's from the songwriter himself, Matt Johnson. In an interview with Uncut’s Michael Bonner,he says “… I’d got myself a sort of reputation in certain quarters for songs that were moody or depressing, but people found it [the song ‘Blind’] uplifting. ‘This Is The Day’, ‘Smile’ and ‘Giant’, they’re also supposed to be uplifting, but thoughtful. A poignant reflection.”

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General Commenti heard this song in empire records. i love how everyone dances to it at the end its like pretty much the last times they're all gonna be together. when i listen to it i hurt. it makes me think of times i had i want to relive again. its a sad but optimistic song. nostalgic.

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General CommentIt’s the second verse that always gets me- ‘You could have done anything...’ etc. Usually before large family gatherings I listen to this song, sob for a while, take a Xanax, and go show up wherever I’m expected. A lot of people told me for a long time how talented I am/was. I invested a lot of time, money, and energy toward that, and for nothing. I feel bitter and angry, and the flipside of that coin is sadness and despair. Treatment-resistant chronic depression. I attacked it aggressively for years and years. Now my memory is fried from meds and electroshock and I’m still in the same place. I could have done anything. Yeah... but the thing I couldn’t do was die. Suicide completion failure is such a hopeless thing. You think ‘I couldn’t even do that right.’ Everyone thinks I’m lucky- in many ways I am- but the thoughts that haunt me relentlessly every day make me want just one thing. To be forgiven.

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