Someday Never Comes

“First thing I remember was askin' papa, "Why?"
For there were many things I didn't know.
And Daddy always smiled; took me by the hand,
Sayin', "Someday you'll understand."

Well, I'm here to tell you now each and ev'ry mother's son
You better learn it fast; you better learn it young,
'Cause, Someday Never Comes.”

Someday Never Comes – Creedence Clearwater Revival

How many times have you said “I’ll do it someday?”

Too many, I reckon would be the answer.

Lead singer of Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Fogerty, says Someday Never Comes is about his parents’ divorce, and how they used to tell him someday he will understand it. Fogerty says did not and never will understand what happened, and the song is about a child not being able to understand the circumstances of a divorce. Because someday never comes.

It seems someday is the easiest thing to say. Whether it be because we want to put something off, are too scared to do or say or listen to something or simply can’t be bothered, we say we will do it someday, or tomorrow, or in future, or later. I always say someday. Someday I’ll learn about it. Someday I’ll go to this place. Someday, I’ll tell someone how I really feel about them. But in reality, these times never come, and we all end up missing out on opportunities because we have said a few little words.  

Someday Never Comes will celebrate forty years since its release in May. That’s forty years of people listening to this song and hearing John Fogerty tell people someday never comes and we should learn everything young and fast. It’s not the first and it won’t be the last; Bob Dylan, Rob Thomas and Nickelback are just a few artists who took the idea of someday and wrote about it, reinforcing this idea that we are trapped in saying someday. 

So, can we stop saying we’ll do something someday? For the first time I want to challenge my readers. I want us all to stop using the term someday. Music has told us explicitly what we all knew in our hearts anyway; someday never comes. I started this blog after saying for ages I would someday start one; now I love writing every week and sharing my thoughts with you. If you want to take up the someday challenge, tweet me @Renees_Musings and let me know what your someday is. Tell your friends. Tell your family. Tell you Twitter and Facebook followers. Tell them we need to act now because someday never comes.