MULTIMEDIA-ENGLISH
Days like this (Van Morrison)
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3:12
Video page URL
https://multimedia-english.com/videos/music/days-like-this-van-morrison-3762
Description

Released in 1995, this song became the official anthem of the peace movement in Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Office used it along with "Brown Eyed Girl" as theme music for a television advertisement promoting the cease fire. Morrison performed it for an audience of 60-80,000 people when President Bill Clinton visited Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 30, 1995. Clinton, himself a saxophonist, had shown an appreciation for Morrison's music and had wanted to perform but was advised against it by security officers.

Transcript

When it's not always raining
there'll be days like this
When there's no one complaining
there'll be days like this
When everything falls into place
like the flick of a switch
Well my mama told me
there'll be days like this

When you don't need to worry
there'll be days like this
When no one's in a hurry
there'll be days like this
When all the parts of the puzzle
start to look like they fit
Then I must remember
there'll be days like this

When you don't need an answer
there'll be days like this
When you don't meet a chancer
there'll be days like this
When you don't get betrayed
by that old Judas kiss
Then I must remember
there'll be days like this

When everyone is upfront
and they're not playing tricks
When you don't have no freeloaders
out to get their kicks
When it's nobody's business
the way that you wanna live
Well my mama told me
there'll be days like this

When no one steps on my dreams
there'll be days like this
When people understand what I mean
there'll be days like this
When you ring out the changes
of how everything is
Well my mama told me
there'll be days like this

Well my mama told me
there'll be days like this
Well my mama told me
there'll be days like this
Well my mama told me
there'll be days like this
Oh my mama told me, (you see)
there'll be days like this

Meaning

Scott Thomas explains the theme of the song in his review:


"The title song turns a common expression and famous pop song chorus on its head. Usually, the phrase "My momma told me there'd be days like this" is something you say to make yourself feel better at the end of a tough day: the implication is that a good day might be just around the corner. The singer, steeling himself against disappointments and letdowns, does not want to feel too good on the good days: "When all the parts of the puzzle start to seem like they fit / Then I must remember there'll be days like this."