Album: Cold Spring Harbor (1971)

License This Song 

• I've been livin' for the moment
  But I just can't have my way
  And I'm afraid to go to sleep
  Cause tomorrow is today
  
  People tell me life is sweeter
  But I don't hear what they say
  Nothing comes to change my life
  So tomorrow is today
  
  I don't care to know the hour
  Cause it's passing anyway
  I don't have to see tomorrow
  Cause I saw it yesterday
  
  So I listen for an answer
  But the feeling seems to stay
  And what's the use of always dreaming
  If tomorrow is today
  
  Still I'm waiting for the morning
  But it feels so far away
  And you don't need the love I'm giving
  So tomorrow is today
  
  Oh, my. Goin' to the river
  Gonna take a ride and the Lord will deliver me
  Made my bed, now I'm gonna lie in it
  If you don't come, I'm sure gonna die in it
  Too late. Too much given
  I've seen a lot of life and I'm damn sick of livin' it
  I keep hopin' that you will pass my way
  
  And some day if your dreams are leavin' you
  I'll still believe in you
  
  I don't care to know the hour
  Cause it's passing anyway
  I don't have to see tomorrow
  Cause I saw it yesterday
  
  Though I'm living and I'm singing
  And although my hands still play
  Soon enough it will all be over
  Cause tomorrow is today Writer/s: BILLY JOEL
  Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Red Brick Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

• Le MasterHe talked about this song on the Billy Joel Channel. He reiterated it was a sort of suicide note. He was 21 and very depressed at the time and full of self pity.
• Teagan from Grand Rapids, MiThank you for clarifying that the drummer rushed him to the hospital. Although it's still not clear if Joel was actually drunk when he attempted. Joel has gone through depression a good amount of his life. It could have been made in his depressive state. Abram says "He must have been drunk/intoxicated" but it is not specified by Joel or anyone else. Although Joel does make the statement, "Furniture polish looked tastier than bleach".
• Ken from Louisville, KyThis is one of the Cold Spring Harbor songs where Joel's voice was mastered at a higher speed, making him sound, as Billy later put it, like a "castrata".
• Abram from Fairfield, VtOk so it's true that he tried to kill himself using furniture polish but just to clarify a few things. At the time he must have been drunk or intoxicated somehow because his reason for not using bleach (which would have actually killed him) was that he thought "Furniture polish just looked tastier". Second he almost succeeded in killing himself, he was found by his drummer passed out on the floor of his apartment and was rushed to the hospital. When Billy fired and hired new band players the only performer he kept form the former band was his drummer who saved him.
• Jack from Elmira, NyThis song is one of my all time favorite songs. It's so great and it has also gotten me through some tough times.
• Landon from Winchester, OhThis is a really beautiful song. Very emotional and well played. Not the song to listen to if you're really feeling depressed though. I have a tendencies of suicidal thoughts myself, and sometimes when I hear this song I suddenly think about ending my own life. Thankfully, though I have problems in my family, I have some steady friends and hobbies to keep me strong, a future to think about, and some enjoyment every now and then, so I think I'm being taken care of. If you've already heard this song, listen to "You're Only Human (Second Wind) by Billy Joel. Since his suicidal attempt failed to kill him, he decided to write an empowerment song encouraging depressed teens that their life will surely improve. It's really good stuff. Listen to it after this song, and notice the difference. You won't believe it's being performed by the same person. Awesome.
• Randy from Reading, PaThis song got me through some tough times in my teens. I love the line I don't have to see tomorrow cause I saw it yesterday.

More Songfacts:

Brian WilsonBarenaked Ladies

Brian Wilson played Barenaked Ladies "Brian Wilson" at some of his concerts. He was "honored" by the song.

Oh WellFleetwood Mac

"Oh Well," from their 1960s Peter Green era, is the only Fleetwood Mac song played in concert in every decade they've been extant.

Just Be Good To MeThe S.O.S. Band

"Just Be Good To Me" by The S.O.S. Band was the first hit written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who worked on Janet Jackson's Control album a few years later. They were members of The Time, a group created by Prince.

Freeway Of LoveAretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin didn't drive, but one of her biggest hits was a car song: "Freeway Of Love."

TendernessGeneral Public

"Tenderness" by General Public was partly inspired by the outbreak of AIDS, which at the time was thought to be contagious.

Three Week HeroPJ Proby

The first time Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham and John Paul Jones all recorded together in the studio was when they backed American singer PJ Proby on his Three Week Hero album.

Editor's Picks

Eagles Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Lots of life lessons in these Eagles lyrics - can you match them to the correct song?

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Steven Tyler of AerosmithSongwriter Interviews

Tyler talks about his true love: songwriting. How he identifies the beauty in a melody and turns sorrow into art.