Today is the greatest
Day I've ever known
Can't live for tomorrow,
Tomorrow's much too long
I'll burn my eyes out
Before I get out

I wanted more
Than life could ever grant me
Bored by the chore
Of saving face

Today is the greatest
Day I've ever known
Can't wait for tomorrow
I might not have that long
I'll tear my heart out
Before I get out

Pink ribbon scars
That never forget
I tried so hard
To cleanse these regrets
My angel wings
Were bruised and restrained
My belly stings

Today is
Today is
Today is
The greatest day

I want to turn you on
I want to turn you on
I want to turn you on
I want to turn you

Today is the greatest
Today is the greatest day
Today is the greatest day
That I have ever really known



Lyrics submitted by Ice

Track duration: 03:22

"Today" as written by Mark David Hollis, Simon Gabriel Brenner

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Today song meanings
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123 Comments

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  • +1
    Song Meaning:@ihavenoclue

    I appreciate your interpretation, so, building on some of what what you posted:


    Lyrics: 'I'll burn my eyes out
    Before I get out"


    Your Comment:

    -I'm unsure of this one. It could describe how badly he wants to die; that he'd rather "burn his eyes out" than "get out" of today and into tomorrow. "Get out" could be taken differently though. It could mean get out of life and this line could be taken as a resolve to go on with life, even though he doesn't want to. The latter makes sense cos that's what we know he did.

    My Comment: I'm thinking that "I'll burn my eyes out" may refer to him wanting to see/do all the crazy stuff that he can before he dies, or "gets out"

    Lyrics: "My belly stings"

    Your Comment:

    -This one addles me. A friend once told me it was about alcoholism, but I'm not sure Billy Corgan was an alcoholic. Someone above said they thought it was a bible reference. It wouldn't be the first for Corgan, and it fits in with the angel line.


    My Comment: I'm 90% sure that this is a reference to Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Egotism; or, The Bosom-Serpent". Maybe he's referring to how his sins/regrets/sorrows/whatever have become a constant presence in his mind.

    Lyrics: "I want to turn you on
    I want to turn you on
    I want to turn you on
    I want to turn you"

    Your Comment: -I agree with "dasuitekilla" here; I think this is unrelated. I hate to cheapen the song but maybe he is sexually frustrated. I s'pose that would make him feel worse. Or maybe he is beginning to miss the persona that he was trying to shed, maybe he wants to "turn it on" again. I know that doesn't really fit with the music but then none of this song's meaning does fit with the music.


    My Comment: Its a stretch, but I think he may be talking about wanting people to notice he killed himself, and feel some sort of reaction to it. I think the last line where he only says "I want to turn you" may be saying that if no one care's that he killed himself, he at least wants them to notice.

    Other than that I really have nothing to add. You pretty much hit the nail on the other lyrics.

    P.S. Hope you didn't mind me re-posting and commenting on your stuff.
    Flag Fyropyroon July 10, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I do remember watching an interview with Corgan where he talked about this song. He talked about how the premise was about a day in his childhood where the ice cream truck driver stopped in front of Billy and his friends and basically said, "I hate my job, fuck this." and just walked off. He and his friends looted the truck and had a brief but glorious time.
    Flag kimikirion June 19, 2012   Link
  • +1
    Lyric Correction:Today is the greatest
    Day I've ever known
    Can't live for tomorrow,
    Tomorrow's much too long
    I'll burn my eyes out
    Before I get out
    I wanted more
    Than life could ever grant me
    Bored by the chore
    Of saving face
    Today is the greatest
    Day I've never known
    Can't wait for tomorrow
    I might not have that long
    I'll tear my heart out
    Before I get out
    Pink ribbon scars
    That never forget
    I tried so hard
    To cleanse these regrets
    My angel wings
    Were bruised and restrained
    My belly stings
    Today is
    Today is
    Today is
    The greatest day
    I want to turn you on
    I want to turn you on
    I want to turn you on
    I want to turn you
    Today is the greatest
    Today is the greatest day
    Today is the greatest day
    That I have ever really known
    Flag kimikirion June 19, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Erm I think the lyrics that are posted above are for a John Denver song?!!

    Correct lyrics please!
    Flag evilshmeeon February 24, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:What happened to the posted lyrics? o.O
    Flag Tig45on February 04, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:From Billy Corgan
    The song that changed my life more than any other. The ultimate in irony: a chirpy song about my near-suicide that all the kids can sing along to. Probably would not have been a hit if i had offed myself in the gloaming before its release, but one can still ponder past the graveyard. I stood in our dingy rehearsal space, amps a -buzzin', and said, "This song needs an opening bit". I placed my hands on the guitar, stared down waiting, and without warning out came this chiming clock of anticipation. I wasn't sure why I needed to sing "I want to turn you on," but in hindsight it makes perfect sense locked in the dust of a new millennium. We are born, a generation dies soon enough
    Flag Pauperon December 27, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Today is the greatest
    Day I've ever known

    -Here he is sarcastically saying that today is great cos it's the last one.

    Can't live for tomorrow,
    Tomorrow's much too long

    -He doesn't want to live anymore. Literally, he doesn't want to see tomorrow.

    I'll burn my eyes out
    Before I get out

    -I'm unsure of this one. It could describe how badly he wants to die; that he'd rather "burn his eyes out" than "get out" of today and into tomorrow. "Get out" could be taken differently though. It could mean get out of life and this line could be taken as a resolve to go on with life, even though he doesn't want to. The latter makes sense cos that's what we know he did.

    I wanted more
    Than life could ever grant me

    -Crashed dreams and whatnot, I think everyone understands what he's saying here.

    Bored by the chore
    Of saving face

    -He's sick of hiding his depression and of wearing that persona.

    Today is the greatest
    Day I've never known
    Can't wait for tomorrow
    I might not have that long
    I'll tear my heart out
    Before I get out

    Pink ribbon scars
    That never forget

    -I think everyone will agree this is about self-harm and one of the most beautiful lines in the song.

    I tried so hard
    To cleanse these regrets

    -Tied in with the last line, he used self-harm to try forget his regrets and bad memories or at least relieve them.

    My angel wings
    Were bruised and restrained

    -The other beautiful line. I think this is about how he was abused as a child. "Angel wings" referring to the innocence of a child.
    They were literally bruised and they were restrained because he couldn't really be a child with the abuse.

    My belly stings

    -This one addles me. A friend once told me it was about alcoholism, but I'm not sure Billy Corgan was an alcoholic. Someone above said they thought it was a bible reference. It wouldn't be the first for Corgan, and it fits in with the angel line.

    Today is
    Today is
    Today is
    The greatest day

    I want to turn you on
    I want to turn you on
    I want to turn you on
    I want to turn you

    -I agree with "dasuitekilla" here; I think this is unrelated. I hate to cheapen the song but maybe he is sexually frustrated. I s'pose that would make him feel worse. Or maybe he is beginning to miss the persona that he was trying to shed, maybe he wants to "turn it on" again. I know that doesn't really fit with the music but then none of this song's meaning does fit with the music.

    Today is the greatest
    Today is the greatest day
    Today is the greatest day
    That I have ever really known
    Flag ihavenoclueon May 29, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I wanted more
    Than life could ever grant me
    Bored by the chore
    Of saving face

    My favourite lines...Love this song
    Flag LoverOfAllThingson April 17, 2011   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:I wanted more
    Than life could ever grant me
    Bored by the chore
    Of saving face

    My favourite lines...Love this song
    Flag LoverOfAllThingson April 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:it's a song about suicidal thoughts rightt...
    Flag smashthepumpkinson February 07, 2011   Link

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