When one speaks about the history of American Alternative Rock, the name of 10,000 Maniacs surely comes up. This is a band that has paved the way for modern alternative rock in America. Founded in 1981, the band has released nine studio albums, six extended plays, and five live albums. It was in 1993 when their popularity peaked. Everyone in the rock music scene was aware of their existence. In 1981, Dennis Drew, Steven Gustafson, Chet Cardinale, Robert Buck, and Terri Newhouse came together and formed a band called “Still Life”. Newhouse and Cardinale left the band in the same year. After that, the band was renamed to “10,000 Maniacs”. This name was inspired from a low-budget horror movie, “Two-Thousand Maniacs”.
Before being named 10,000 Maniacs, the band was also called Burn Victims for a short while. Natalie Merchant and John Lombardo joined the band after the departure of its two founding members.
This band has also performed on a variety of television shows. The PR team of this band made them what they are today. By inviting all the relevant acts in the industry and taking part in everything actively, the band was able to stay relevant even after it had peaked. Even today, the band tours from time to time. What’s more, is that the band has separate touring members as well. “These are Days” is a track from their album “Our Time in Eden”. The lyrics of this song are pretty straightforward. You really won’t face any difficulty in interpreting the these are days lyrics meaning. After all, the band is known for their musical charisma and not the words that they use in their songs. After one listen, the these are days lyrics meaning will be crystal clear to you.
What does the Title mean?
The title of the song acts as a simple reminder. It reminds us that these are the days to live our life. There is no future nor any past. The only thing that exists is the present. The only days that exist are todays. If you live life today, you won’t have any regrets on your death bed.
Verse 1 – What does it mean?
“These are days you’ll remember
Never before and never since, I promise
Will the whole world be warm as this
And as you feel it
The song begins with a nostalgic touch. The narrator opens the song by reminding the listener that these are days that you’ll remember for the time to come. Often, we fail to cherish the present. Most of us live our lives worrying about the future or cursing the past. If you look out your window, you’ll see countless human beings rushing to and for in order to secure their future. People amass ridiculous amounts of wealth, but aren’t able to enjoy it. They do so in order to have a secure future. However, in doing so, they fail to live to the fullest in the present. This is the biggest folly of human beings – not focussing on the present. The narrator reminds us that perhaps we won’t be able to feel the warmth of this world like this ever again. Who knows when we’ll die? Would we live long enough to see another summer? This song stops you in your tracks and forces you to think whether you’re enjoying the present to the fullest extent or not.
What does the Chorus mean?
“You’ll know it’s true
That you are blessed and lucky
It’s true, that you are touched by something
That will grow and bloom in you”
The chorus takes a divine turn, as the narrator addresses a truth that all of us know. We all know that we’re lucky to be alive. We don’t cherish our lives enough. If we stop and think about it, it’s nothing short of a miracle that we are alive as human beings and experiencing reality as our subjective self. Have you ever thought what it would be like to never have existed? The taste of delicious food, the cool wind blowing in your hair, aesthetic sights, fragrances that put you in a trance, feelings of love, heartbreak, pain, excitement, etc. are all experiences that we take for granted. The narrator says that it’s true that we are touched by something divine. Perhaps, human consciousness is the biggest proof of divinity. Perhaps, divinity is inside us and not outside. The concept of “God” that we are all familiar with is perhaps inside us, and it blooms inside us. Once our flame is extinguished, the world as we know it ends.
Verse 2 – What does it mean?
“These are days you’ll remember
When may is rushing over you with desire
To be part of the miracles you see in every hour”
A lot of people do not believe in miracles. Yet, what exactly are miracles? Isn’t the sun rising everyday or the earth rotating on its axis a miracle in itself? Isn’t the fact that you are alive a miracle in itself? The life that is born on this planet or the souls that leave it everyday are nothing short of a miracle. Every experience that we have in this lifetime is a miracle. The fact that there is something as opposed to nothing is another miracle that we take for granted.
What does the Outro mean?
“These are the days
You might fill with laughter
Until you break
These days you might feel a shaft of light, light
Make its way across your face
And when you do
You‘ll know how it was meant to be
See the signs and know their meaning, it’s true
You’ll know how it was meant to be
Hear the signs and
Know they’re speaking to you
To you”
The first two lines of the outro reminds us of enjoying the little things. For instance, there are times when we laugh till we fall. There are times when we feel the warm light of the sun on our faces when we wake up in the morning. There are times when human beings have a mystical experience. The fact that you are alive is meant to be. It’s all part of a divine plan and you know that it’s true. You can feel this truth inside you. The signs are all around us. However, due to the hustle and bustle of modern life, we fail to see those divine signs. And these signs are not telling us to do anything. Instead, these signs are just mere reminders for us to stop, take a step back, and enjoy this life. After all, life itself is divine. All the signs around us point to one thing – that God and divinity are inside us.
Conclusion
From the outset, it might seem that the these are days lyrics meaning is quite shallow. However, if you read these words carefully, you’ll realize that they hold the truth of this world. If you’re having a bad day, it’s best that you listen to this song by 10,000 Maniacs, as it’s bound to uplift you. Once you get the true these are days lyrics meaning, you’ll realize how precious this life really is. You’ll realize that you do not cherish this life enough. You’ll realize your own mortality and the very beauty of it.
