Tomorrow
Shakey Graves Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴Well I'm tired of losing
I used to win every night of the week
Yeah, and back when sex and amphetamines
Oh were the staples of our childhood physique

You used to tell me we'd turn into something
Oh, you said life was much better than this
Yeah, but the closest I've come to perfection

Is when you turned around to steal a kiss

But you never trusted tomorrow
Yeah, baby is that anyway to live your life?
Well, you love this heart and this six string, girl, oh
But they've been outta tune yeah for some time

Well, you said, "Oh, I love so many women
Oh there's so many women I love and driving me wild"
Yeah, they say you get lost in complexion
And the structure of a well-placed smile

But luckily you, oh, you never smile
Yeah, oh you, oh you never smile
Oh and it looks just a little bit better that way to me
Sometimes it does

Oh but, you know, you never trusted tomorrow
Oh, baby, that's just a problem of mine
Yeah, I've been thrown around by some bad ones, girl
Oh, and a good one was a new thing this time

Yeah, but you showed me that I couldn't be farther
Oh, from the truth of the problem at hand
Oh, I could never say "Baby, tomorrow

Oh, I'll be right there, I'ma be your man, ooh
Yeah, oh, I'll be your man, ooh," try this, good luck to us all

Overall Meaning

In "Tomorrow," Shakey Graves expresses his exhaustion with the consistent pattern of losing and the realization that the pleasures of the past, such as sex and drugs, no longer suffice to sustain him. The first verse of the song navigates the shift from the "winning" mentality of youth to the present reality of losing. The line "sex and amphetamines, oh were the staples of our childhood physique" encapsulates the temporary highs that fueled him in his adolescence. However, the second line shows that he is now weary of this lifestyle and recognizes that it is no longer sustainable.

The second verse highlights a past love whose optimism contrasted his defeatism. However, he admits that the closest he has come to happiness was when she kissed him. The chorus centers on this idea of not trusting tomorrow; a skepticism that is inbred and damaging. He acknowledges that he has been "thrown around by some bad ones" and that "a good one" is difficult to come by, but despite this, he sees that she is not the problem. The bridge expresses his longing to see a brighter and happier tomorrow, but he recognizes that it's an inevitability. He can never say he'll be there tomorrow, so he can't be the man she needs.

Line by Line Meaning

Well I'm tired of losing
I'm exhausted from consistently losing.

I used to win every night of the week
I was successful every single night of the week.

Yeah, and back when sex and amphetamines
During our youth, sex and amphetamines were commonplace.

Oh were the staples of our childhood physique
It was part of our childhood identity and generational culture.

You used to tell me we'd turn into something
In the past, you mentioned that we would evolve into something greater.

Oh, you said life was much better than this
You believed that life would be significantly better than our current experience.

Yeah, but the closest I've come to perfection
However, the closest I've been to perfection is when you unexpectedly kissed me.

Is when you turned around to steal a kiss
The moment you turned and stole a kiss is the closest I've been to perfection.

But you never trusted tomorrow
You never placed faith in the concept of the future.

Yeah, baby is that anyway to live your life?
Is that truly the best way to approach life?

Well, you love this heart and this six string, girl, oh
You admired my passionate heart and ability to play guitar.

But they've been outta tune yeah for some time
However, they have been out of alignment and uncoordinated for a while.

Well, you said, "Oh, I love so many women
You mentioned that you love numerous women.

Oh there's so many women I love and driving me wild"
These women are driving me crazy as a result of my admiration.

Yeah, they say you get lost in complexion
People generally become infatuated by beauty.

And the structure of a well-placed smile
Furthermore, a well-timed smile can capture one's heart and mind.

But luckily you, oh, you never smile
Fortunately, you aren't one to fall for a charming smile.

Yeah, oh you, oh you never smile
You genuinely aren't someone who commonly smiles.

Oh and it looks just a little bit better that way to me
And to me, your non-smiling appearance is endearing and attractive.

Sometimes it does
At times, your unsmiling nature is appealing.

Oh but, you know, you never trusted tomorrow
It's evident that you never had faith in tomorrow.

Oh, baby, that's just a problem of mine
However, I perceived this as my issue.

Yeah, I've been thrown around by some bad ones, girl
I have faced hardships via romantic relationships.

Oh, and a good one was a new thing this time
Meeting someone who was good for me was a rarity this time around.

Yeah, but you showed me that I couldn't be farther
Yet, you revealed to me that I was mistaken.

Oh, from the truth of the problem at hand
I was far from the accurate understanding of the current problem.

Oh, I could never say "Baby, tomorrow
I acknowledge that I couldn't guarantee that I would be there for you tomorrow.

Oh, I'll be right there, I'ma be your man, ooh
I cannot promise to be there for you tomorrow or fulfill a future role.

Yeah, oh, I'll be your man, ooh," try this, good luck to us all
I hope this promise of being there tomorrow improves both our lives - good luck to us all.

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