The "Better Times" Project

Janis Ian & Friends

Shonen Knife

Better Times Will Come by Janis Ian Performed by Shonen Knife
  1. Better Times Will Come Shonen Knife 1:43

Embed

Copy and paste this code to your site to embed.

Watch the video.

Play this on the jukebox and listen to a lot of other versions too.
You can also download all the different musical versions, in the order they went up.

Check Shonen Knife’s website, Facebook page and Twitter feed for more info.

CREDITS: 
Naoko – Vocal, Guitar
Atsuko – Bass
Risa – Drums

From Janis: People who don’t know me well usually think all I listen to are depressing ballads. In fact, my musical tastes are pretty wide ranging. I love Lhasa de Sela, Last Shadow Puppets, Milton Nascimento, Patti Smith, Backstreet Boys, Irma Franklin, My Chemical Romance… and Shonen Knife. So one day, corresponding with Japan project manager Takahiro Maeda, I said “What about Shonen Knife? After all, they were one of the first punk groups in Japan, and one of the first all-female groups that played, sang, and arranged their material.” After many false trails, Takahiro was able to give them my invitation. Recorded virtually under lockdown in their home town of Osaka, Japan, they had these kind words to say:

“Hi Janis, I’m Naoko from Shonen Knife. It is our great honor to join your project. Thank you for inviting us. I was listening to your song Love is Blind through TV in 70’s. I enjoyed the remote recording and video shooting of your new song…I hope everything will getting better and I would like to tour to the US again soon. I’m looking forward to seeing you someday. Take care and have fun. Naoko of Shonen Knife”

BETTER TIMES WILL COME
(Janis Ian)

Better times, better times will come.
Better times, better times will come.
When this world learns to live as one,
oh, better times will come

When we greet each dawn without fear
knowing loved ones soon will be near
When the winds of war
cannot blow any more
Oh, better times will come

CHORUS

Though we live each day as our last
we know someday soon it will pass
We will dance, we will sing
in that never-ending spring
Oh, better times will come

CHORUS

“Better Times Will Come” words & music by Janis Ian; © Janis Ian 2020. All rights reserved; international copyrights secured. Used by permission