What does Bad Day mean?

Daniel Powter: Bad Day Meaning

Album cover for Bad Day album cover

Bad Day Lyrics

Where is the moment we need at the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to grey
They tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carryin' on

You stand in the line just ahead of...

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  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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     Jun 11th 2011 !⃝

    This is about the singer/songwriter himself. It is clearly about someone who is photographed since it says "the camera don't lie." When it says "fakin the smile with the coffee to go," coffee is generally thought of as a beverage adults drink- especially when they are tired. A singer/songwriter on tour is probably overtired and maybe feels like he has lost his childhood (thus the coffee). To add to the "childhood lost" theme, there is the line "you kick up the leaves and the magic is lost. Do you remember being a kid and purposely walking in the path of leaves on the side of the street just to kick them up and watch the colors? It was fascinating. Now, as an adult, facing responsibility, the childish joys are lost. Plus, if you are kicking leaves, you are looking down. The singer/songwriter has his head down as he is walking. It is a lonely feeling as he does not go to breakfast with anyone, but rather takes his coffee to go. Someone might say this is about a girl/guy love relationship, but I think it is about a singer/songwriter who has lost the passion for his career.

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    esprakenhayt03
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     Jan 7th 2006 !⃝

    It's a sad song, but still full of hope. I think it's about someone who was been through a tough situation and about to give up on life, but something in him/her believes that everything is going to be ok and soon he or she will be better.

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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     Aug 4th 2007 !⃝

    The song is about someone who's disappointed with their life, but were once happy with it. This person tries to hide how he actually feels by making people think that he's fine. Some of the lyrics don't suggest something that happened one day, but something that been happening for a long time.

  4. anonymous
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     Sep 15th 2023 !⃝

    The guy has incredible talent. Plays EVERY instrument and has taught music theory at highest level. I figure the song is a mix of moving on from his former starter band members, a scary apt fire, and some lyrics borrowed from a Ry Cooder/Eureke Ca book....just a guess, youd need to ask the guy.

  5. anonymous
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     Sep 6th 2021 !⃝

    In my opinion, I think that the song “Bad Day” by Daniel Powter is about someone who is trying to comfort someone else who had a bad day. that person could be a friend, a partner, a spouse, a family member, or even a stranger. In addition, I think that the person has had a bad day before. or maybe that person’s whole life is in need of change. Moreover, I think that the person trying to comfort the other person is unhappy with them for taking their anger out on others.

  6. anonymous
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     Jul 20th 2021 !⃝

    I can only say what this song means for me. When I hear the chorus it makes me smile, like a good friend telling you "so you had a bad day...quit your whining, get a grip,and stop feeling sorry for yourself".

  7. anonymous
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     Sep 26th 2016 !⃝

    Hey, im the weirdo who wrote the stupid Emily prentiss and JJ review...i think that this is about a guy/girl who just had a really bad day and sorta feels a bit depressed and just is over it... They tell someone, that someone is all like " Stop getting so worked up about this, its a bad day. Everyone has them. Tommorow will be better..." Yes, i know that pretty much the same thing i wrote before, but i wanted to rewrite it without the criminal minds references...
    Bye

  8. anonymous
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     Sep 21st 2016 !⃝

    I think that this amazing and meaningful song is about someone confiding in another about their sad times. Then the person being confided in helps sad person. Lets call confided in person 'JJ' and sad person 'Emily' just because XD. JJ tells Emily that all she needs to do is let it all out, come back happy and just remember its just a bad day and that tomorrow will be better. And to all of you who have these days, do the same! Its just the key to becoming a happier person. Just remember you are beautiful and totally worth it!! :)

  9. anonymous
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     Jan 10th 2015 !⃝

    Personally I think it's about someone trying to help someone else who maybe acts happy but they know there's something wrong "you say you don't know" "faking a smile" and maybe this has happened before because it says "you're coming back down and you really don't mind" so it could be about a relationship or best friends it depends on your opinion it means what you want it to mean.

  10. anonymous
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     May 9th 2014 !⃝

    I honestly believe the song is about someone who is depressed and struggling and gives into suicide. Morbid, I know, but it makes sense. "how does it feel for one last time?" No matter what everyone will have a bad day here and there, unless one's life is ended.

  11. anonymous
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     Nov 21st 2012 !⃝

    its about the girl who is so depressed ... and the boy is trying to help her in bad situtaion....but she is not at all listening to him...

  12. anonymous
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     Apr 26th 2012 !⃝

    It is about a singer/songwriter who has lost the passion for his career

  13. anonymous
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     Jul 3rd 2008 !⃝

    I believe this song is about drugs and the bad side effects with them and without them..."You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost" is connected to drugs...leaves means weed, but the magic (high) was lost which leads to a bad day....another drug reference is when he says "You're coming back down and you really don't mind" which "coming down" is a drug reference to coming down from a high which tends to be very painful...but the artist doesn't mind his coming down because he is simply having a bad day.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  14. anonymous
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     Nov 25th 2007 !⃝

    Well, life isn't perfect. And no one is, either. And sometimes you have a "bad day". But you can work through it, and good things may come out of it.

  15. habedasher
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     Nov 12th 2007 !⃝

    It's about someone who takes their problems out on their partner and the resentment the partner feels. I don't see hope: lines like : and I don't need no carry'in on imply a fatigue with being used and the melodrama and You're coming back down and you really don't mind , implies a selfish lack of awareness for the impact of their moodiness on others.... and besides when do you ever hear an optimistic song that's any good ... The best songs are always depressing ... In my humble opinion.

  16. habedasher
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     Nov 12th 2007 !⃝

    It's a song about a person's resentment towards their spouse for taking out their problems out on him/her, for example, you're coming down and really don't mind = the person is unaware of their impact on others or and I don't need no carry'in on = the person is tired of being taken for granted and all the melodrama. His voice changes to anger on these lines, where people see optimism mystifies me .... guess people want to believe that artists write happy songs ... now how often does that happen?~!!!

  17. x_lily_x
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     Oct 4th 2007 !⃝

    It's about someone who's been through a rough time but can still see the light on the other side. An optimist if you may.

  18. anonymous
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     Jun 26th 2006 !⃝

    DUH! it's about someone having..yet another bad day. Hence the title and chorus

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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