I was walking around
Just a face in the crowd
Tryna keep myself out of the rain
Saw a vagabond king
Wear a Styrofoam crown
Wondered if I might end up the same
There’s a man out on the corner
Singing old songs about change
Everybody’s got their cross to bear these days
She came looking for some shelter
With a suitcase full of dreams
To a motel room on the boulevard
I guess she’s tryna be James Dean
She’s seen all the disciples and all the wanna-bes
No one wants to be themselves these days
Still there’s nothing to hold on to but these days
These days the stars seem out of reach
These days there ain’t a ladder on the streets
Oh, no, no
These days are fast
Nothing lasts
In this graceless age
There ain’t nobody left but us these days
Jimmy Shoes. He busted both his legs
Tryna learn to fly
From a second story window
He just jumped and closed his eyes
His momma said he was crazy
He said, “Momma, I’ve gotta try
Don’t you know that all my heroes died?
And I guess I’d rather die than fade away.”
These days the stars seem out of reach
But these days there ain’t a ladder on the streets
Oh, no, no
These days are fast
Nothing lasts
It’s a graceless age
Even innocence has caught the midnight train
And there ain’t nobody left but us these days
I know Rome’s still burning
Though the times have changed
This world keeps turning
Round and round and round and round these days
These days the stars seem out of reach
But these days there ain’t a ladder on the streets
Oh, no, no
These days are fast
Love don’t last
It’s a graceless age
Even innocence has caught the midnight train
These days the stars seem out of reach
These days there ain’t a ladder on the streets
Oh, no, no
These days are fast
Nothing lasts
There ain’t no time to waste
There ain’t nobody left to take the blame
Oh, no, no
There ain’t nobody left but us these days
Ain’t nobody left but us these days
Reflecting on Hard Times and Lost Innocence
“These Days” by Bon Jovi is a poignant reflection on the struggles and disillusionment of modern life. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of people searching for meaning and hope amidst uncertainty and disappointment. With lines about a “vagabond king” and “a suitcase full of dreams,” the song highlights the way dreams can become elusive, and how everyone carries their own burden. The repeated refrain that “the stars seem out of reach” and “there ain’t a ladder on the streets” underscores a sense of longing and the difficulty of finding a way up or out. Even as the world keeps turning, the sense of loss—of innocence, love, and opportunities—pervades, making “These Days” resonate with anyone who has faced hardship or felt left behind by changing times.
Song Credits
- Songwriters: Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora
- Release Year: 1995
- Label: Mercury Records