Alighting upon the folk music scene two years ago from the upland wilds of Northern Minnesota, Espe garnered the attention that one might expect from a significant talent:
-“My Whole Life” a top 20 album for 2006 (intelligentpop.com)
-Featured artist for the 2007 Volkswagen Auto Tour.
-Showcased artist for the 2007 Folk Alliance, Memphis, Tennessee.
-Among the top-ranked unsigned folk artists (myspace.com)
The beauty of his sound, coupled with the aura of a shy guy, stirs a desire to join the now burgeoning army of Espe’s unpaid publicists. Among his recent surge of supporters is President of CD Baby (America’s largest distributor of independent music), Derek Sivers:
“Aaron, I love your ‘My Whole Life’ CD so much I’m going to feature it on the front page of CD baby for a few days. We get about 100 new albums sent to us a day (about 100,000 total), and yours is one of the best I’ve ever heard!”
Without benefit of the high-powered promotion that hammers mainstream music into our consciousness, Aaron Espe’s fans greedily await the release of his second album, “Songs from a Small Town” (Spring 2008).
Only Time
Aaron Espe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see it all caught in a globe
The hum and the rush, they′re never enough
Tell me now, where does it go?
If it's only time
If it′s only time
Then everything else can wait
And stay right here in this place
The marks and the miles
Sometimes I'm a child looking up like I used to do
And it comes without warning
Dark as the morning
Drinking good coffee with you
If it's only time
If it′s only time
Then everything else can wait
Let it stop awhile, let me watch you smile
And stay right here in this place
Mm-mm-mm
If it′s only time
If it's only time
Then everything else can wait
Let it stop awhile, let me watch you smile
And stay right here in this place
Mm-mm
Mm-mm
In Aaron Espe's song "Only Time," the lyrics capture a sense of reflection and appreciation for the present moment. The opening lines suggest that the singer has been in a particular situation for a couple of years and is now taking a step back to observe everything that is happening. The imagery of the "globe" suggests that the singer sees the world and their experiences contained within a limited perspective.
The following lines express a longing for something more meaningful than the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The "hum and rush" of daily activities are portrayed as insufficient, leaving the singer to question where it all leads. The repetition of "If it's only time" emphasizes the theme of time passing by and prompts the listener to consider the importance of being present in the moment.
The chorus highlights the singer's desire to pause time in order to appreciate the simple joys of life. They express a yearning to watch someone smile and relish in being in a specific place. This reflects a craving for connection and the recognition that everything else can wait when there is an opportunity to soak in such meaningful moments.
Overall, "Only Time" encourages listeners to value the present and prioritize the people and experiences that bring genuine joy and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
A couple of years standing right here
After being together for a couple of years, we're still in the same place, experiencing life together.
I see it all caught in a globe
I observe our entire world and experiences being encapsulated in a small, contained space.
The hum and the rush, they're never enough
The sounds and fast pace of life are never satisfying on their own.
Tell me now, where does it go?
I wonder where the passing time disappears to.
If it's only time
If all we have is time together.
Then everything else can wait
We can put aside all other matters and prioritize our time together.
Let it stop awhile, let me watch you smile
Allow time to pause, so I can fully enjoy and admire your smile.
And stay right here in this place
Let's remain in this moment, in this place.
The marks and the miles
The physical and emotional distances we've journeyed.
Sometimes I'm a child looking up like I used to do
Occasionally, I revert back to a child-like state, gazing upwards in wonder, just as I did in the past.
And it comes without warning
This feeling arises unexpectedly.
Dark as the morning
Sometimes, this feeling is as heavy and mysterious as the darkness of the early morning.
Drinking good coffee with you
Enjoying a moment of simple pleasures, like savoring a cup of delicious coffee together.
Mm-mm-mm
Instrumental interlude.
Mm-mm
Instrumental interlude.
Writer(s): Aaron Sheldon Espe, Hannah Madisen Taylor
Contributed by Jackson W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@thespeeddemon7832
this is the most underrated song ever, definitely going down as one of my favs!!❤❤
@Priyaheree
No matter if this song becomes famous in the future or not, it'd always be one of my top songs, I've been getting this song as top in my Spotify wrapped for 2 years ❤
@sanath811
Amazing! I hope this blows up.
@ParadoxicalSerenity
This is the definition of serene ❤️
@drumitri
So beautiful!!!
@Marjolijn2011
Thank you for your beautiful song! Means so much to me at this moment ❤
@joanjohnson6118
I simply love this song.
@patrickdugan9630
Nice, fun to meet your music! We know your folks
@dominiklibera6940
Gitara !
Pozdro
@evanweaver1060
Reminds me of that song from the steven universe movie. “Drift Away”.