Casual Analysis of Tuesday Afternoon Lyrics by the Moody Blues
What does Tuesday Afternoon by the Moody Blues mean? The day after Monday? I don't think so.
Who cares about Tuesday Afternoon?
Who cares about a song written in 1967? Who? I do. I can't explain exactly why, this song came out a couple years before I was born. I figure maybe it was played a lot while I was in my Mom's womb, so I heard it second hand, through embryonic fluid. Truly though, if you've never heard of the Moody Blues, go to a swimming pool, with speakers underwater (they exist, I've been there) and have them crank "Tuesday Afternoon".
What is it about Tuesday Afternoon? It's just another day in the week. Just another day, ho hum, who cares? Of course, as artists' are apt to point out, that's the point, it's just another day. A regular day, a glorious thank the Great Spirit I'm alive! Day!
The lyrics of Tuesday Afternoon:
Tuesday Afternoon
by the Moody Blues
Tuesday afternoon,
I'm just beginning to see, now I'm on my way
It doesn't matter to me, chasing the clouds away.
Something, calls to me,
The trees are drawing me near, I've got to find out why?
Those gentle voices I hear, explain it all with a sigh.
I'm looking at myself reflections of my mind,
It's just the kind of day to leave myself behind.
So gently swaying through the fairyland of love,
If you'll just come with me you'll see the beauty of
Tuesday afternoon, Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday, afternoon,
I'm just beginning to see, now I'm on my way.
It doesn't matter to me, chasing the clouds away.
Something, calls to me,
The trees are drawing me near, I've got to find out why
Tuesday Afternoon aka Forever Afternoon
Taking the ordinary and making it extraordinaire
Justin Hayward wrote the song originally, sitting on his British lawn in his sneakers with his guitar. Truly this is one of those rare moments in life, just sitting there, sublimely, when the sun hits this homo sapiens sapiens just right. The words come out, and ordinary life is exalted to an extraordinary level.
Hayward explains "the trees are drawing near" which is really the way many of us feel when we get outside for awhile, leaving the fluorescent lights and the cubicle behind.
He goes on to sing "I'm looking at myself reflections of my mind,
It's just the kind of day to leave myself behind."
Truly any of us, with a withering whisp of creativity left in us, can feel that emotion. Looking at yourself with that kind of revere, just enough to forget about yourself, and your existence long enough to only recognize your breathing. Certain songs lend themselves to existentialism, many Moody Blues songs do, and certainly Tuesday Afternoon is no different.
On a good day, the sun breaks through the clouds and shines on us like waverly beams of delicious goodness. Our bellies are full, our friends are around. Music is in the air and art is in front of our minds. It's just another day, but it's the best day, it's Tuesday Afternoon.
