"22,000 Days" is a song written by

Graeme Edge Graeme Charles Edge (30 March 1941 – 11 November 2021) was an English musician, songwriter and poet, best known as the co-founder and drummer of the English band the Moody Blues. In addition to his work with the Moody Blues, Edge worked as th ...

that was first released by the

Moody Blues Moody may refer to: Places * Moody, Alabama, U.S. * Moody, Missouri, U.S. * Moody, Texas, U.S. * Moody County, South Dakota, U.S. * Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada * Hundred of Moody, a cadastral division in South Australia ** Moody, Sout ...

on their 1981 album ''

Long Distance Voyager ''Long Distance Voyager'' is the tenth album by the Moody Blues, first released in May 1981 on the group's Threshold record label. It was the group's first album featuring keyboardist Patrick Moraz (who previously had worked with bands such as ...

''. It was also released as the B-side to the top-ten single " The Voice". "22,000 Days" reached No. 38 on the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' Top Rock Tracks chart.

Recording

A version of "22,000 Days" was one of the first songs recorded for ''Long Distance Voyager'', in February and March 1980. The group felt it could be done better and so it was re-recorded in the Spring of that year.

Lyrics and music

The lyrics of "22,000 Days" exhort the listener to live life to the full and not waste time because we only have limited time to live. 22,000 days amount to a little more than 60 years. Edge said of the relatively short lifespan implied by the song: Music journalist Geoffrey Freakes described "22,000 Days " as having a "

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...

-influenced intro, with Edge playing a "

John Bonham John Henry Bonham (31 May 1948 – 25 September 1980) was an English musician who was the drummer of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Noted for his speed, power, fast single-footed kick drumming, distinctive sound, and feel for groove, John Bonh ...

-like stomp" on the drums. Freakes also praised

Pat Moraz Patrick Philippe Moraz (born 24 June 1948) is a Swiss musician, film composer and songwriter, best known for his tenures as keyboardist in the rock bands Yes and the Moody Blues. Born into a musical family, Moraz learned music at a young age an ...

's "inventive keyboard fills" as well as his keyboard solo in the middle of the song. Moraz said: The lead vocals of the verses are sung by

Justin Hayward David Justin Hayward (born 14 October 1946) is an English musician. He was the guitarist and frontman of the rock band the Moody Blues from 1966 until its dissolution in 2018. He became the group's principal vocalist and its most prolific son ...

and John Lodge with

Ray Thomas Raymond Thomas (29 December 1941 – 4 January 2018) was an English musician, singer and songwriter. He was best known as a founding member of the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues. His flute solo on the band's 1967 hit single " Ni ...

also in the mix, and all three sing equally in on the

refrain A refrain (from Vulgar Latin ''refringere'', "to repeat", and later from Old French ''refraindre'') is the Line (poetry)">line or lines that are repeated in poetry or in music">poetry.html" ;"title="Line (poetry)">line or lines that are repeat ...

. Producer

Pip Williams Philip "Pip" Williams (born 7 October 1947), sometimes spelt Phillip, is an English record producer, arranger, and guitarist. He is best known for producing albums for Status Quo and The Moody Blues, but has also worked with a large number of we ...

said: The song was originally recorded with Thomas singing the lead vocal in the verses, with a smoother melody than was on the final recording. Lodge later suggested that they sing the verses in a more

staccato Staccato (; Italian for "detached") is a form of Articulation (music), musical articulation. In modern notation, it signifies a note of shortened duration, separated from the note that may follow by silence. It has been described by theorists and ...

fashion, to be consistent with the

percussion A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a percussion mallet, beater including attached or enclosed beaters or Rattle (percussion beater), rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or ...

sound. Lodge and Hayward recorded the verse vocals in that manner, with Lodge's voice higher and thus more prominent, but Thomas's original vocal was included in the mix.

Reception

''Ottawa Citizen'' critic Bill Provick said that it "gives the band a good excuse to try out a bit of its multi-textured rock momentum and works quite well" ''Atlanta Constitution'' writer Bill King said it "makes good use of a heavy, almost military rhythm, Thomas' harmonica playing and a catchy chorus. ''The Daily Record'' critic Jim Bohen described it as "marching music for conquering

Roman legion The Roman legion (, ) was the largest military List of military legions, unit of the Roman army, composed of Roman citizenship, Roman citizens serving as legionary, legionaries. During the Roman Republic the manipular legion comprised 4,200 i ...

s. ''Johnson City Press-Chronicle'' critic Elaine Cloud Goller said that it has "an urgent reminder not to let precious time be wasted, the heavy bass lines marking the metaphor of time marching on. ''Billboard''s review of the album listed "Meanwhile" as one of the "best cuts". ''

'' contributor Ed Harrison called it "spirited" and said that it "highlights the second side f ''Long Distance Voyager''and exemplifies the group's harmonic way with a song.

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

critic Dave Connolley described it as a "winning number" in which Edge "tries his hand successfully in some philosophizing worthy of ormer Moody Blues member

Mike Pinder Michael Thomas Pinder (27 December 1941 – 24 April 2024) was an English rock musician. He was a founding member and the original keyboard player of the rock group the Moody Blues. He left the group following the recording of the band's nint ...

." ''Fort Lauderdale News'' critic Cameron Cohick considered it to be a weak song. ''

Creem ''Creem'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American rock music magazine and entertainment company, founded in Detroit, whose initial print run lasted from 1969 to 1989. It was first published in March 1969 by Barry Kramer and founding editor ...

'' reviewer Jim Farber said the song is "a lot of kvetching about how short a time we have to live." Although "22,000 Days" was not released as a single A-side, it received significant airplay on adult-oriented rock radio stations and reached #38 on the ''

Mainstream Rock Mainstream rock (also known as heritage rock) is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada. Format background Mainstream rock stations represent a cross between classic rock, active rock and alternativ ...

chart.

Live performances

"22,000 Days" was included in the Moody Blues' live setlists during their ''Long Distance Voyager'' tour.

References

{{authority control The Moody Blues songs 1980 songs Songs written by Graeme Edge Song recordings produced by Pip Williams