Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a picture of a vibrant, almost overwhelming present moment. Roxie rattles off a series of enthusiastic exclamations – "good, isn't it? Grand, isn't it? Great, isn't it?" – all leading to the simple, emphatic declaration: "Nowadays." This repetition establishes a tone of immediate, almost breathless appreciation for the current state of affairs. The world Roxie describes is bursting with energy, a sensory overload of "men, everywhere, Jazz, everywhere, Booze, everywhere, Life, everywhere, Joy, everywhere." It's a scene of uninhibited, perhaps even decadent, living, all condensed into the present tense.
The central tension lies in the contrast between this intoxicating present and the fleeting nature of time. Roxie acknowledges the freedom to "like the life you're livin'" and "live the life you like," even suggesting a scandalous duality: "marry Harry / But mess around with Ike." This suggests a world where personal desires can be indulged, where societal norms might be bent. Yet, this indulgence is immediately followed by the sobering realization that "nothing stays." The lyrics explicitly state, "In fifty years or so / It's gonna change, you know," introducing a poignant awareness of impermanence.
The most striking craft element is the relentless, almost hypnotic repetition of the positive adjectives and the word "Nowadays." This creates a sense of exhilaration, mirroring the feeling of being swept up in the moment. The juxtaposition of this effervescent present with the stark prediction of future change highlights the song's core message. It’s as if Roxie is trying to convince herself, and the listener, to savor the current highs before they inevitably fade. The inclusion of Velma in the latter half reinforces this shared, perhaps desperate, embrace of the present.
This lyrical construction is effective because it captures a universal human impulse: to seize the day, to revel in the now, especially when faced with the unknown future. The rapid-fire enumeration of pleasures and freedoms, coupled with the acknowledgment of time's passage, creates a complex emotional landscape. It’s a celebration tinged with a hint of melancholy, a powerful reminder that the "heaven" of "Nowadays" is, by its very definition, temporary.
