Most children grow up in ‘phases’ – I was given no time for that. I took on the mental weight of an adult the moment I stepped out of that tiny TACA airplane… and into the rest of my life. In fact, the only evidence that I even had a childhood exists in a black 32×17 Rubbermaid trunk. I bought the trunk to protect my books, CDs, and photo albums from the Honduran heat and humidity. Today, I keep the trunk in my closet. It contains stacks of letters from my 8th grade Sunday school class… wishing me well, wishing me luck. It contains letters I wrote to myself… promising myself I would get out alive. It contains the jewelry I wore the day I was kidnapped… the photographs that were taken minutes before it happened, photographs of a dear friend who gave his life so that I could live. It contains fragments of a life that I shut away until now…
When I began writing for this album, I opened the trunk for the first time in years. The overwhelming smell of dark mahogany, coffee, and burning sugarcane (the smell of Honduras) hit me like a wall, and I knew that all the memories I’d stifled were begging to be brought to life. I also knew that I was being presented with a choice: I could let these memories, and the experiences that they represent, cuff me, paralyze me, and make me bitter… or I could turn them into something beautiful… something that other people could relate to and, hopefully, find comfort in. This is my gift.
Time Machine
Amy Kuney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look, I?ve built a time machine
To take us back to when
Your favorite word was ?please?
And mine was always ?yes?
Verse 2:
Grown-ups and ?no no? words
We?ll go back with all we?ve learned
And translate what they said
Bridge:
We?ll fast forward a year or so
We can?t wait here we have to know
Will we still be each other?s or alone?
Verse 3:
So on the count of three
A year from now tonight
We'll both turn in bed to see
Who could be sleeping on the other side
In the song "Time Machine" by Amy Kuney, the singer talks about building a time machine that takes them back to a time when things were simpler, and they were younger. The singer wants to go back to a time when they had a strong connection and a deep understanding of each other's needs. The time machine is the best way to go back in time and find that special bond that they have lost over the years of growing up. The lyrics suggest that growing up has brought all sorts of complications and challenges, making it tough to understand each other's needs and connect in a meaningful way.
In the third verse, the singer mentions fast-forwarding a year, questioning if they'll still be together or alone. The fear of losing one another adds more depth to the meaning behind the song. It is a universal thought that everyone worries about, especially those in long-standing relationships. The lyrics reflect this fear and show that it is not only the singer's fear but a fear shared by others who have been in long-term relationships. The song ends on a note of suspense as the singer wonders who will be sleeping on the other side next year.
The song "Time Machine" has a deeper meaning of nostalgia, regret, and longing. It is a reflection on how time passes too quickly, and we often forget the little things that we used to cherish with our loved ones. The lyrics show how growing up complicates our lives but how there is a beauty in simplicity and a desire to go back to those moments.
Line by Line Meaning
Look, I've built a time machine
I have constructed a creation that can take us back in time
To take us back to when
The time machine will take us to a previous point in time
Your favorite word was 'please'
When we travel back in time, your commonly used word was 'please'
And mine was always 'yes'
My frequently spoken word at that time was 'yes'
Grown-ups and 'no no' words
Adults and the terms they forbade or frowned upon
They spelled over our heads
They used words too complicated for us to understand
We'll go back with all we've learned
We will return with the knowledge we have acquired since then
And translate what they said
We'll interpret their language and expressions for ourselves
We'll fast forward a year or so
We will advance ahead in time by about a year
We can't wait here we have to know
We're eager to uncover the future we'll experience
Will we still be each other's or alone?
We're uncertain whether we'll remain in each other's company or be by ourselves
So on the count of three
After counting to three
A year from now tonight
At this exact date a year from now
We'll both turn in bed to see
We'll look in bed beside us
Who could be sleeping on the other side
We may discover another person sleeping next to us
Contributed by Anna V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.