In Time
The Black Keys Lyrics
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And all the people, they sure don't want you to know
They don't want you to know, oh
Livin' in chains, the heart's rearranged
You gotta lure it back, all of the time
Now tell me I'm right, oh
And I got a thing I really can't say
You've got a worried mind
I've got a worried heart
You don't know what to do
I don't know where to start
You let this beat us down
Well get up off the ground
One day, I know
We've got to go, oh
Where is your mind?
The street is beating you bad
It's taken it's time, it's taken it's time, oh
Oh, where to run?
I told you to get, but you were having your fun
Now you're under the gun, oh
And I got a thing I really can't say
You've got a worried mind
I've got a worried heart
You don't know what to do
I don't know where to start
You let this beat us down
Well get up off the ground
One day, I know
We've got to go, oh
The lyrics to The Black Keys’ song “In Time” describe a feeling of desperation and confusion about the direction of one’s life. The singer asks multiple questions, such as “Where do we go?” and “Where is your mind?” suggesting a lack of clarity about choices and decisions. The people around them seem to hold some sort of knowledge that they don’t want to share, creating feelings of isolation and helplessness. In the second verse, the singer speaks to someone with a “worried mind,” someone who is similarly struggling with indecision and feeling the weight of the world. They urge this person to “get up off the ground” and eventually, they will have to move forward.
The chorus consistently repeats that they “got a thing [they] really can’t say,” and while it's unclear what that thing is, it seems to be a source of great frustration for them. It could be a secret, a confession, or something else entirely. Regardless, it's evident that whatever that thing is, it's weighing heavily on their minds and making it difficult for them to think clearly.
Overall, “In Time” is a song about uncertainty and the challenge of figuring out which direction to take. It’s a relatable song for anyone who’s ever felt lost or unsure about what to do next.
Line by Line Meaning
Where do we go?
The singer is questioning the path they should take in life.
And all the people, they sure don't want you to know
The people around the singer are intentionally keeping them in the dark.
They don't want you to know, oh
The people around the singer are hiding the truth from them.
Livin' in chains, the heart's rearranged
The artist feels trapped and their emotions are mixed up.
You gotta lure it back, all of the time
The artist needs to work hard to regain control of their emotions.
Now tell me I'm right, oh
The singer is seeking validation for their feelings.
And I got a thing I really can't say
The singer has a secret that they are not ready to reveal.
You've got a worried mind
The person the artist is speaking to is anxious and stressed.
I've got a worried heart
The artist is also feeling anxious and stressed.
You don't know what to do
The person the artist is speaking to is lost and unsure of how to proceed.
I don't know where to start
The singer is also uncertain of how to move forward.
You let this beat us down
The situation has caused both the artist and the person they are speaking to to feel defeated.
Well get up off the ground
The singer is urging the person they are speaking to to rise above their struggles.
One day, I know
The singer has hope that things will get better eventually.
We've got to go, oh
The singer and the person they are speaking to need to move on from this difficult situation.
Where is your mind?
The artist is questioning the other person's state of mind.
The street is beating you bad
The other person is struggling with the harsh realities of life.
It's taken it's time, it's taken it's time, oh
The difficulty the other person is facing has been a long time in the making.
Oh, where to run?
The singer is urging the other person to find an escape from their struggles.
I told you to get, but you were having your fun
The other person has been ignoring the artist's advice and enjoying themselves instead of facing reality.
Now you're under the gun, oh
The situation has become urgent and pressing for the other person.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BRIAN JOSEPH BURTON, DANIEL AUERBACH, PATRICK CARNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind