🌤 About the Song
“This Is the Day” might be the most bittersweet song ever disguised as a pep talk.
Matt Johnson wrote it in his early twenties, and it’s all about regret, nostalgia, and the eternal human lie that today’s the day everything changes. But somehow, it’s still comforting — that gorgeous accordion, the hopeful lift in the chorus — as if self-deception is just another kind of optimism.
It’s a song that says, you’ve messed things up, but you’re still here — so maybe this is the day you get it right.
On ukulele, it transforms into something gentle and reflective, perfect for late afternoons, kitchen windows, or the tail-end of a pint.
🎸 Ukulele Playing Tips
We’ll set it in C major, a bright key that captures the bittersweet light of the original.
You’ll need C, F, G, and Am — simple, open chords that shimmer on ukulele.
Verse progression: [C] – [F] – [G] – [C]
Chorus: [Am] – [F] – [C] – [G]
Strumming pattern: down–down–up–up–down–up at around 95 bpm, with a soft swing.
For something more introspective, fingerpick (pluck 4–3–2–1) and let each note hang.
If you want to mimic the original’s rolling feel, accent the first strum of each bar and lighten the rest — like a train rhythm slowing down in sunlight.
Singing tip: Matt Johnson’s delivery is half-smirk, half-sigh. Sing it conversationally, like you’re talking yourself into believing the lyrics.
💡 Trivia You Can Drop Casually
- Released in 1983, This Is the Day was The The’s breakthrough single, reaching #10 on the UK Indie Chart.
- The accordion sound isn’t real — it’s an early sampler (a Roland SH-101 synth pretending to be one).
- The song resurfaced in countless films, ads, and shows — most famously a M&M’s advert, which delighted and horrified fans in equal measure.
- Matt Johnson played nearly all the instruments on the original recording.
- The album Soul Mining was produced by Johnson with assistance from Thomas Leer — it’s now considered a masterpiece of British art-pop.
🌈 Final Word
“This Is the Day” is that rare song that smiles while it breaks your heart. On ukulele, it becomes personal — smaller, humbler, but just as full of yearning.
Play it like a confession. It’s not about redemption, just the idea that maybe, if you strum it right this time, things might change.
