Art Blakey continues to be a legend among drummers, while the works of his Jazz Messengers are treasured among jazz musicians.
I Didn't Know What Time It Was
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers Lyrics
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Yesterday, perhaps
Danced with Jim and Paul
And kissed some other chaps
Once I was young
But never was naive
I thought I had a trick or two
And now I know I was naive
I didn't know what time it was
Then I met you
Oh, what a lovely time it was
How sublime it was too
I didn't know what day it was
You held my hand
Warm like the month of May it was
And I'll say it was grand
Grand to be alive, to be young
To be mad, to be yours alone
Grand to see your face, feel your touch
Hear your voice say, "I'm all your own"
I didn't know what year it was
Life was no prize
I wanted love and here it was
Shining out of your eyes
I'm wise and I know what time it is now
Grand to be alive, to be young
To be mad, to be yours alone
Grand to see your face, feel your touch
Hear your voice say, "I'm all your own"
I didn't know what year it was
Life was no prize
I wanted love and here it was
Shining out of your eyes
I'm wise and I know what time it is now
The song "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" by Art Blakey feat. Wayne Shorter is a nostalgic tribute to youth and the power of love to change our lives. The first lines evoke memories of an innocent past, where the singer danced and kissed without much thought or consequence. But then the chorus comes in, with its simple but profound statement: "I didn't know what time it was / Then I met you." The love interest has transformed the singer's perception of time, making the past seem dull in comparison to the present. The song speaks to the transformative power of love, and the way it can awaken us to new experiences and possibilities.
The second verse continues in this vein, with the singer reflecting on how naive they were to think they had everything figured out. The love interest has challenged those assumptions, shining a light on the singer's limitations and showing them a different way of being. The bridge emphasizes the joy and passion of being young and in love, with its repetition of the word "grand" and its descriptions of physical and emotional pleasures.
The final verse brings the song full circle, with the singer once again acknowledging their previous ignorance and contrasting it with the happiness that love has brought them. The line "Life was no prize" is particularly poignant, suggesting that the singer had been going through the motions before meeting their love interest. But now they are wise, and they know what time it is - they have been awakened to the possibilities of the present and the future.
Overall, "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" is a masterclass in nostalgia and gratitude. The nostalgic elements of the song allow the singer to reflect on the past, while the gratitude they express for their love interest underscores the transformative power of love. It's a beautiful song that speaks to the universal experience of falling in love and feeling like everything else pales in comparison.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I was young
Back in the day when I was young and carefree
Yesterday, perhaps
It seems as if it was just yesterday, although it may have been a while ago
Danced with Jim and Paul
I used to dance with Jim and Paul, and other guys too
And kissed some other chaps
I also kissed some other guys
But never was naive
Even though I was young, I was never foolish or inexperienced
I thought I had a trick or two
I believed I had some clever ideas
Up my imaginary sleeve
That weren't necessarily based in reality
And now I know I was naive
Looking back, I realize that I was indeed naive
I didn't know what time it was
At the time, I was unaware of the true nature of things
Then I met you
Until I met you and things changed
Oh, what a lovely time it was
It was a wonderful period in my life
How sublime it was too
Absolutely perfect
I didn't know what day it was
I was so caught up in the moment that I lost track of time
You held my hand
You were there for me
Warm like the month of May it was
It felt like a warm and sunny day in May
And I'll say it was grand
It was splendid
Grand to be alive, to be young
It was amazing to be alive and young
To be mad, to be yours alone
To be crazy about you and devoted to only you
Grand to see your face, feel your touch
It was wonderful to be in your presence and feel your touch
Hear your voice say, "I'm all your own"
To hear you say that you belonged to me was music to my ears
Life was no prize
My life up until then was nothing special
I wanted love and here it was
I was looking for love, and I found it in you
Shining out of your eyes
I could see it in your eyes
I'm wise and I know what time it is now
Now that I know what true love is, I am wiser and more knowledgeable
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: LORENZ HART, RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pablo Pabon
Art Blakey's band had a hell of a who who in Jazz all the time. Just fabulous musicians from Clifford Brown to Lee Morgan on trumpet to Wayne Shorter to Johnny Griffin on Tenor saxophone to Curtis Fuller on Trombone and Bobby Timmons to Cedar Walton on piano. The list of musicians goes on and on great music.
nicolas saxo
wow