I’m looking at myself reflections of my mind/
It’s just the kind of day to leave myself behind.

The Moody Blues’ “Tuesday Afternoon” is a drug song. The author is sitting in a field stoned and hears the trees calling to him, inviting him. It doesn’t disturb him (“he explains it away with a sigh”). The trees tell him if you come explore “the fairyland of love/ you’ll see the beauty of/ Tuesday afternoon.” He does find himself interested and wants to find out more.

The song structure reminds me a lot of A Day in the Life by The Beatles. It sounds like it is two very different songs thrown together to make a unique whole. I can’t think of many more songs like that. Maybe “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen– but that is like four songs. The Moody blues are famous for psychedelic rock and the versus and lyrics of this song are quintessential examples of the movement.

More Great Songs from Moody Blues.

Tuesday Afternoon Lyrics

Tuesday afternoon.
I’m just beginning to see,
Now I’m on my way.
It doesn’t matter to me,
Chasing the clouds away.

Something, calls to me.
The trees are drawing me near,
I’ve got to find out why.
Those gentle voices I hear,
Explain it all with a sigh.

I’m looking at myself reflections of my mind,
It’s just the kind of day to leave myself behind.
So gently swaying through the fairyland of love,
If you’ll just come with me you’ll see the beauty of
Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday afternoon.

Tuesday afternoon.
I’m just beginning to see,
Now I’m on my way.
It doesn’t matter to me,
Chasing the clouds away.

Something calls to me.
The trees are drawing me near,
I’ve got to find out why.
Those gentle voices I hear
Explain it all with a sigh.

Songwriters: Justin Hayward