Things Can Only Get Better

Album: Dream Into Action (1985)
Charted: 6 5
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • When we spoke with Howard Jones, he told us he decided to write this positive song for the audience he had garnered following the success of his debut album, Human's Lib: "We're talking about the second album, now, and I'd had great success with the first one. I thought, People are listening to me, so what can I give them that is really going to help? And everyone goes through s--t. Everyone goes through bad times. Every single person on the planet goes through bad times. And it's great sometimes to have somebody say to you, 'Come on, even if it gets so you lose everything and everything goes horribly wrong, you can still pick yourself up and go forward, and you can make it right, you can make things get better.'"
  • Howard Jones added he believes the song is still relevant nowadays: "I'm so glad that I can stick to those sentiments now. And they're just as relevant, really. I think pop music, one of the things it should be is like a cheerleading song that helps you get through a bad time and pick you up a bit when you're feeling a bit exhausted and glub. And that's what I really wanted to do."
  • Howard recorded a Simlish-language version of this song for the 2004 game The Sims 2.
  • The video, directed by Nigel Dick, was very popular on MTV, which in its early years favored British acts with outrageous haircuts. The Charlie Chaplin character who shows up in the clip is Jed Hoile, a mime who was part of Jones' stage act.

Comments: 2

  • Inmate No 13141-111 from Federal PrisonI'm going back to Federal prison for my third and fourth Federal felony convictions for fraud. I will not live long enough to be released.
  • Jim Castro from Rowland Heights. CaGreat record - Asking everyone - what is that 80's song - He just sings - Woooah - Wooooah Woooah Wooooah - - I found it - lol- Masterpiece - always a part of the Big 80's -
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular Music

Lace the Music: How LSD Changed Popular MusicSong Writing

Starting in Virginia City, Nevada and rippling out to the Haight-Ashbury, LSD reshaped popular music.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.