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Time > Breathe Reprise >
Greensky Bluegrass Lyrics


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Ticking away the moments
That make up a dull day
Fritter and waste the hours
In an off-hand way

Kicking around on a piece of ground
In your home town
Waiting for someone or something
To show you the way




Tired of lying in the sunshine
Staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long
And there is time to kill today

And then the one day you find
Ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run
You missed the starting gun

Breathe, breathe in the air.
Don't be afraid to care.
Leave, don't leave me.
Look around and choose your own ground.

Long you live and high you fly
smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry
all you touch and all you see
Is all your life will ever be.

Run, rabbit run.
Dig that hole, FORget the sun,
And when at last the work is done
Don't sit down it's time to dig another one.

For long you live and high you fly
But only if you ride the tide
And balanced on the biggest wave
You race towards an early grave.

Overall Meaning

The above lyrics form a combination of two classic songs, "Time" and "Breathe," by the iconic progressive rock band Pink Floyd. "Time" emphasizes the idea of time slipping away and the singer's regret of not making the most out of his earlier years. The lines "Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day" and "Ten years have got behind you, no one told you when to run. You missed the starting gun" implore the listener to be mindful of how they're spending their time and not let it pass them by. The last verse emphasizes that the time is ticking, and one is racing towards an early grave.


The second part of the song, "Breathe," is a call to action, urging the listener to look beyond the surface and choose their own path. The lyrics "Breathe, breathe in the air. Don't be afraid to care" urge the listener to embrace their emotions and not be afraid to pursue what they desire. The line "Long you live and high you fly, but only if you ride the tide" not only refers to going with the flow but also suggests that one can achieve great things if they follow their dreams, but it can also lead to destruction if they don't. In summary, the song's main theme centers around making the most of life and not taking it for granted.


Line by Line Meaning

Ticking away the moments
Every second that passes is slowly slipping away


That make up a dull day
These seconds are uneventful and unremarkable


Fritter and waste the hours
Pass time without purpose or productivity


In an off-hand way
Without much effort or concern


Kicking around on a piece of ground
Wandering aimlessly in a familiar place


In your home town
The place you grew up, where everything is familiar


Waiting for someone or something
Hoping for some kind of direction or guidance


To show you the way
To help you find purpose or direction


Tired of lying in the sunshine
Bored with a life of leisure and stagnation


Staying home to watch the rain
Surrendering to inactivity and passivity


You are young and life is long
Thinking there is plenty of time to live life fully


And there is time to kill today
Deciding to waste time as it is available to do so


And then the one day you find
At some point in your life


Ten years have got behind you
You realize that a significant amount of time has passed


No one told you when to run
No one has given you a specific direction to take in life


You missed the starting gun
You failed to take advantage of opportunities that have come your way


Breathe, breathe in the air.
Allow yourself to be present and aware of your surroundings


Don't be afraid to care.
Showing vulnerability and love is important, even if it can be scary


Leave, don't leave me.
Choosing to stay or go is a difficult decision


Look around and choose your own ground.
Explore and find a place that feels like home


Long you live and high you fly
Life can be long and full of opportunity


Smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry
Both joy and sadness are a part of life


All you touch and all you see
Everything in life is interconnected and nothing exists in isolation


Is all your life will ever be.
Your experiences shape your life and who you are


Run, rabbit run.
Some may have the urge to run constantly, chasing after something that doesn't exist


Dig that hole, FORget the sun,
Bury yourself in work or activity and forget to enjoy the beauty of the world


And when at last the work is done
When you have finally accomplished what you set out to do


Don't sit down it's time to dig another one.
Don't give up or stop moving forward, there is always more to do


But only if you ride the tide
You can only succeed if you take advantage of opportunities when they arise


And balanced on the biggest wave
Taking control and finding balance in life is essential for success


You race towards an early grave.
If you don't live life purposefully and with intention, you may not realize what you missed until it is too late




Writer(s): ROGER WATERS, DAVID GILMOUR, RICK WRIGHT, NICHOLAS MASON

Contributed by Ryan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

David LeTourneau


on Forget Everything

"Shuffle in the room with some friends"

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