Note: We would like to thank the anonymous commenter who pointed out that Jackson Browne — not Nico — wrote the lyrics to "These Days." We have corrected our mistake, although we believe that Nico's interpretation of the lyrics gives the song its special power.

EVERY ONCE IN a while, a set of song lyrics comes along that blows the listener's mind. In fact, songs can often be surprisingly poetic.

In the hopes of showing our readers just how accessible poetry can be, “Poetry from the Gargoyle's mouth” will spend this coming week publishing the poems hidden within songs. Feel free to suggest one of your favorite songs that is particularly poetic.

Today's poem is the song “These Days,” written by a 16-year-old Jackson Browne and first made popular by the enigmatic Nico.

The lyrics are recited by senior Andrea Park, who likes the song because of its role in the soundtrack of the movie “The Royal Tenenbaums.”

However, “These Days” is a great song for reasons other than Wes Anderson. Browne the writer and Nico the singer/interpreter manage to capture the true sense of a slump, days when things just don't seem to be going your way. You sit around, hoping that things will get better, trying to forget the mistakes and twists of fate that led you to your current predicament.

“THESE DAYS”
by Jackson Browne

I've been out walking
I don't do too much talking
These days, these days.
These days I seem to think a lot
About the things that I forgot to do
And all the times I had the chance to.

I've stopped my rambling,
I don't do too much gambling
These days, these days.
These days I seem to think about
How all the changes came about my ways
And I wonder if I'll see another highway.

I had a lover,
I don't think I'll risk another
These days, these days.
And if I seem to be afraid
To live the life that I have made in song
It's just that I've been losing so long.

I've stopped my dreaming,
I won't do too much scheming
These days, these days.
These days I sit on corner stones
And count the time in quarter tones to ten.
Please don't confront me with my failures,
I had not forgotten them.

Listen to “These Days” sung by Nico here.

See the scene from “The Royal Tenenbaums” here.