Beat the Clock
Sparks Lyrics
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(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
Well, I was born a little premature
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
Mom just couldn't take no more
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
Had no time to learn to cry
Goodbye mama, got to fly
Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
Entered school when I was two
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
Phd'd that afternoon
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
Never entered any sports
I didn't look too good in shorts
Got divorced when I was four
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
Well, I've seen everything there is
I've done everything there is
I've met everyone but Liz
Now I've even met old Liz
No time for relationship
Skip the foreplay, let 'er rip
You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock
You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
Well, I did lots of traveling
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
Parts of me unraveling
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
The army then rejected me
Said I had two flat feet
Wore them out when I was three
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
Too bad there ain't ten of you
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
Then I'd show you what I'd do
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
I could cheat on five of you
And be faithful to you two
But there's only one of you
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
Well, I've seen everything there is
I've done everything there is
I've met everyone but Liz
Now I've even met old Liz
No time for relationship
Skip the foreplay, let 'er rip
You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock
You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
(You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock)
You gotta beat the clock
"Beat the Clock" by Sparks is a playful, energetic and quirky pop song. It’s about an individual who was born prematurely as his/her mother could not take it anymore. The singer grew up quickly, he/she entered school when he/she was two years old and then he/she quickly graduated with a Ph.D. that afternoon. He/She did not enter any sports probably because he/she did not look good in shorts. He/She also got married and divorced when he/she was just four years old. The individual has seen everything and met everyone apart from Liz, although he/she has even met Old Liz. The singer is not interested in developing a relationship and wants to skip the foreplay and get straight to the point. He/She believes that life is a game and they have to beat the clock, meaning that they shouldn't waste any time.
It is evident that Sparks wanted to create an amusing song that is not to be taken seriously. The singer narrates the story of someone who has had a very unusual life, from being born prematurely and entering school at two years old, to getting a divorce at four. The theme of time is repeated throughout the song, highlighting the fact that time is precious and we need to make the most of it. He/She enjoys making new relationships but only as long as they don't take too much time. It is clear from the lyrics of the song that the singer is a risk-taker who likes to break the rules and live life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
You gotta beat the clock, you gotta beat the clock
The singer emphasizes the importance of time as they repeat the song's title
Well, I was born a little premature
The singer was born earlier than expected
Mom just couldn't take no more
The singer's mother was either tired of carrying the pregnancy or of being pregnant
Had no time to learn to cry
The artist didn't have time to develop certain abilities/skills
Goodbye mama, got to fly
The artist had to leave their mother soon after birth
Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye
The singer bids farewell repeatedly
Entered school when I was two
The singer started schooling at a very young age
Phd'd that afternoon
The artist obtained a Ph.D. degree quickly
Never entered any sports
The artist didn't participate in sports
I didn't look too good in shorts
The artist didn't find themselves attractive in shorts
Got divorced when I was four
The singer divorced at a very young age, or this could be a sarcastic remark about their early failed relationships
Well, I've seen everything there is
The artist has experienced almost everything in their life
I've done everything there is
The singer has accomplished almost everything in their life
I've met everyone but Liz
The singer has interacted with almost everyone they know except for Liz
Now I've even met old Liz
The singer now met Liz, at an older age possibly
No time for relationship
The artist is too busy to engage in a committed relationship
Skip the foreplay, let 'er rip
The artist wants to dive right into the physical aspect of a relationship without any preliminaries
The army then rejected me
The singer wanted to join the army but was rejected
Said I had two flat feet
The army said that the singer had a physical condition that made them unsuitable for service
Wore them out when I was three
The artist's feet were damaged when they were only three years old
Too bad there ain't ten of you
The artist wishes they had more partners with whom to cheat on
Then I'd show you what I'd do
The artist would demonstrate their abilities if they had more partners
I could cheat on five of you
The singer believes they can cheat on five of their partners
And be faithful to you two
The artist believes they can remain faithful to two of their partners
But there's only one of you
The singer only has one partner
You gotta beat the clock
The singer urges the listener again to be mindful of time
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ronald D Mael, Russell Craig Mael
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Richard Cochrane
Had the great honour of interviewing Ron and Russell when working for a charity that produced audio magazines for the blind....a more charming and approachable pair of musicians I have never met before or since - absolute gents!!
babette witt
I totally agree with you! I'm a huge fan of THEM TOO! ! I feel a very deep KINSHIP in different ways! ! They haved CHANGED my LIFE in so many POSITIVE WAYS! Thanks Russell and Ron for ALL THAT AND MORE! !
Scott Martin
That's funny because I interviewed them on behalf of Music Videos for the Deaf Int'l and they couldn't have been more rude! Weird...
Just kidding of course, hopefully not in bad taste :oD
B622Niner
@Scott Martin you scared the shit out of me
kappa
@B622Niner honestly if i heard that sparks had been super rude to someone, i would assume it was a joke they were pulling lol
Drexxaal
@Scott Martin silly! 😄😆😂💋
leeder92
There's no other band like Sparks. Totally unique.
stu wilks
1979 is one of the great years of music! Such an abundance of groundbreaking new wave, punk and dance records that are so timeless.
Aus80sRockRadio
True that about '79. I also love 1981.
folon23
This song was released before 1979.