Ronnie Milsap’s “Any Day Now” is one of those timeless songs that instantly takes you back to the quiet moments of your past, when heartache lingered like a shadow and hope was something you clung to, even when you knew better. Released in 1982, Milsap’s rendition of this soulful ballad became a crossover hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, while also making its way into the Billboard Hot 100. It was a song that defied genre boundaries, touching anyone who had ever known the bittersweet pain of waiting for love to slip through their fingers.
Originally written by Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard, “Any Day Now” was first recorded in 1962 by Chuck Jackson. But it was Ronnie Milsap’s tender, country-infused version that truly captured the hearts of a generation. By the time Milsap gave his voice to the song, he had already established himself as one of the most versatile artists in country music. His smooth, emotional delivery made every word of the song feel personal, as if he were sharing his own story of love lost and the inevitable goodbye that looms over every uncertain romance.
The song speaks to that universal, heartbreaking moment we all fear: knowing that the one you love may leave you at any time. “Any day now, when your restless eyes meet someone new,” Milsap croons, and with that, he pulls the listener into a world of quiet desperation and unspoken goodbyes. For anyone who’s waited by the phone, or watched someone drift further away, these lyrics resonate on a deep, almost painful level. It’s a feeling of resignation mixed with hope—the hope that maybe, just maybe, this time they won’t leave.
What makes Milsap’s version stand out is not just his voice, but the way he bridges the gap between soul and country, crafting a sound that feels both modern and nostalgic. His piano, gentle and tender, guides the song’s rhythm like a heartbeat—steady but fragile. The subtle string arrangement adds a layer of emotional depth, turning the track into a ballad that feels intimate, yet grand in its emotional scope.
For many listeners, especially those who lived through the era, “Any Day Now” is more than just a song. It’s a memory, a reminder of a time when love was something you fought to hold onto, even when you knew it was slipping away. Ronnie Milsap, with his deep sense of vulnerability, gave us a piece of himself in this track. And for those who hear it today, it still serves as a haunting reminder of the fragility of love—and the bittersweet beauty of waiting for the inevitable.
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
Any day now
I will hear you say “Goodbye, my love”
And you’ll be on your way
Then my wild beautiful bird, you will have flown, oh
Any day now
I’ll be all alone, whoa
Any day now
When your restless eyes meet someone new
Oh, to my sad surprise
Then the blue shadows will fall all over town, oh
Any day now (any day now)
Love will let me down (any day now), whoa
I know I shouldn’t want to keep you
If you don’t want to stay-ay
Until you gone forever
I’ll keep holding on for dear life
Holding you this way
Begging you to stay
Any day now
When the clock strikes, “Go”
You’ll call it off
And then my tears will flow
Then my wild beautiful bird, you will have flown, oh
Any day now (any day now)
Love will let me down (any day now)
‘Cause you won’t be around
Ohh, then the blue shadows will fall all over town, oh
Any day now (any day now)
Love will let me down (any day now)
‘Cause you won’t be around
Any day now
You won’t be around, ooh
(Any day now)
No, no, no, no, no, no
You won’t be around
(Any day now)