BETTER DAYS

Well my soul checked out missing as I sat listening
To the hours and minutes tickin' away
Yeah just sittin' around waitin' for my life to begin
While it was all just slippin' away
I'm tired of waitin' for tomorrow to come
Or that train to come roarin' 'round the bend
I got a new suit of clothes a pretty red rose
And a woman I can call my friend

These are better days baby
Yeah there's better days shining through
These are better days baby
Better days with a girl like you

Well I took a piss at fortune's sweet kiss
It's like eatin' caviar and dirt
It's a sad funny ending to find yourself pretending
A rich man in a poor man's shirt
Now my ass was draggin' when from a passin' gypsy wagon
Your heart like a diamond shone
Tonight I'm layin' in your arms carvin' lucky charms
Out of these heard luck bones

These are better days baby
These are better days it's true
These are better days
There's better days shining through

Now a life of leisure and a pirate's treasure
Don't make much for tragedy
But it's a sad man my friend who's livin' in his own skin
And can't stand the company
Every fool's got a reason to feelin' sorry for himself
And turning his heart to stone
Tonight this fool's halfway to heaven and just a mile outta hell
And I feel like I'm comin' home

These are better days baby
There's better days shining through
These are better days
Better days with a girl like you

These are better days baby
These are better days it's true
These are better days
Better days are shining through

Published on Lucky Town. It's Springsteen's fourth right contemplation of his contradictory status as a multi-millionaire, working class hero.

Played during every show of the Human Touch tour. Also appeared during the Reunion, The Rising, and Devils & Dust tour.

Included on singles in 1992 with HUMAN TOUCH, TOUGHER THAN THE REST, PART MAN, PART MONKEY, and SOULS OF THE DEPARTED. Also included on Greatest Hits and the MTV UnPlugged CD and DVD.

Liner notes by Bruce Springsteen in the Greatest Hits booklet:

With a young son + about to get married (for the last time) I was feeling like a happy guy who has his rough days rather than vice versa.