The Day After Tomorrow

[Blue_In_AK]

This is one of the most moving antiwar songs I've ever heard, written by Tom Waits and introduced to me on Linda Thompson's album "Versatile Heart." I've listened to it dozens of times now, and it still makes me cry.



I got your letter today
and I miss you all so much here
I can't wait to see you all
and I'm counting the days here

I still believe that there's gold
at the end of the world
And I'll come home to Illinois
on the day after tomorrow

It is so hard and it's cold here
and I'm tired of taking orders
And I miss old Rockford town
up by the Wisconsin border

What I miss, you won't believe
shoveling snow and raking leaves
And my plane will touch down
on the day after tomorrow

I close my eyes every nite
and I dream that I can hold you

They fill us full of lies, everyone buys
'bout what it means to be a soldier
I still don't know how I'm supposed to feel
'bout all the blood that's been spilled
Will god on this throne
get me back home
on the day after tomorrow

You can't deny, the other side
Don't want to die anymore then we do
What I'm trying to say is don't they pray
to the same god that we do?

And tell me how does god choose
whose prayers does he refuse?
Who turns the wheel
Who throws the dice
on the day after tomorrow

I'm not fighting, for justice
I am not fighting, for freedom
I am fighting, for my life
and another day in the world here

I just do what I've been told
We're just the gravel on the road
And only the lucky ones come home
on the day after tomorrow

And the summer, it too will fade
and with it brings the winter's frost dear
And I know we too are made
of all the things that we have lost here

I'll be 21 today
I been saving all my pay
And my plane will touch down
on the day after tomorrow
And my plane it will touch down
on the day after tomorrow



Written by: Tom Waits and Kathleen Waits-Brennan

[jojo54]

1. WOW!

..and I thought Jackson Browne had some powerful stuff.

Very good post Blue.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. You can listen to it here

http://www.rhapsody.com/lindathompson (13th song down)

or watch a YouTube of Tom Waits doing it on the Daily Show here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odLFic4rNp4

It's really worth listening to. I dare you to keep a dry eye.

[Dhalgren]

2. Beautiful...haunting...

Thank you...

[amerikat]

4. Here is the youtube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odLFic4rNp4

In my humble opinion Tom Waits is the best lyricist of our time, and every song is highly crafted. He is like a fine bottle of whiskey that only gets better with age. I also like the line from "Tom Trauberts blues".........

I'm an innocent victim of a blinded alley
And I'm tired of all these soldiers here
No one speaks English
And every thing's broken
And my Stacys are soaking wet...

Must be how most Iraqi's feel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrkThaBWa5c

[Blue_In_AK]

6. I've loved him for decades now.

He speaks to the heart.

[pamela]

5. K & R & thank you. n/t