Alpha, their second album, also had a couple of hits ("Don't Cry" and "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes") but its follow-up, Astra, was a flop. The group disbanded in 1985, only to reunite in 1990 without John Wetton; John Payne took his place. After churning out a couple of new songs for a greatest-hits collection, the band hit the road, including two sold-out dates in front of 20,000 fans in Moscow. Thereafter, they toured sporadically and released Aqua (1992), Aria (1994), Arena (1996), Aura (2001), and Silent Nation (2004). The band's lineup reverted to its original form featuring Wetton, Palmer, Howe, and Downes for Phoenix (2008) and Omega (2010). In 2012, the original Asia lineup returned with the studio album XXX, featuring the single "Face on the Bridge." The following year, Howe announced his amicable departure from the group to pursue other projects, and in 2014 Asia released the album Gravitas, featuring new guitarist Sam Coulson. In January 2017, a month and a half before the scheduled beginning of an extensive U.S. tour by the band, John Wetton died from colon cancer at the age of 67.
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
There is another band with the same name:
2) Asia was an excellent hard rock band with a drive for epic, pomp-filled rock tunes. The band was from Rapid City, South Dakota and should not be confused with the famous U.K. one, which sadly outshone them and ended up rendering the U.S. group highly obscure despite the U.S. one's critical support. Going for a loose instrumental energy similar to Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, their eventual line-up was made up of Michael English (vocals, bass, percussion), Larry Galbraith (vocals, guitars, mandolin), Mike Coates (guitars, mandolin, mellotron, piano, harpsichord, vocals), and Doug Johnson (percussion). They released two albums: 'Asia' (1979) and 'Armed to the Teeth' (1980).
Time Again
Asia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Want for nothing, but is nothing what you need
Always pushing though you're never satisfied
I did believe you 'till I found out that you lied
Time and time again
Time and time again
Again
What I give you I get nothing in return
Can't forgive you, watching all your bridges burn
All day long I stand and watch you do it wrong
I have to say that's how you did it all along
Time and time again
Time and time again
Again
When others learned it seemed that you could only see
And someone showed you, then why was it always me
I knew the limit, you were always out of bounds
How could I trust you when I caught you messing 'round
And time and time and time again
Time and time again
Time and time again
Again
The song "Time Again" by Asia is a ballad that speaks about the recurring cycle of disappointment and hurt in a relationship. The opening line suggests that fate may appear to be predetermined, but nothing is guaranteed. The lyrics go on to depict a scenario where one person desires everything, yet they can never seem to find satisfaction. The chorus of the song repeats "Time and time again" to emphasize the repetitive nature of the cycle. The singer also confesses their initial trust in the person, only to find out they have been lied to.
The second verse continues to describe how the singer has given their all to the other person but has received nothing in return. They struggle to forgive the person as they watch relationships around them burn, all while the other person continues to make the same mistakes. The singer states that they always knew the other person had limits, yet continually crossed them. The sense of hurt is so intense that even the act of someone else attempting to teach the person never worked, and it always fell back on the singer.
Overall, the song is a tale of one person's emotional turmoil and pain, which seems never-ending. It presents the universal theme of trust, betrayal, and the eventual collapse of a bond due to repetitive harm. Despite the pain and sorrow depicted, the song has a gentle and soothing melody that brings a glimmer of hope of finding peace in moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
Fate looks certain byt then nothing's guaranteed
Although fate seems to be certain, nothing in life is guaranteed.
Want for nothing, but is nothing what you need
You have everything you want, but you question whether it's truly what you need.
Always pushing though you're never satisfied
You keep striving for something, but you never feel content or satisfied.
I did believe you 'till I found out that you lied
I had faith in you until the point where I learned that you had lied.
Time and time again
Repeatedly over time.
What I give you I get nothing in return
I don't receive anything in return for what I give to you.
Can't forgive you, watching all your bridges burn
I can't forgive you as I see all your relationships go up in flames.
All day long I stand and watch you do it wrong
I witness you making mistakes all day long.
I have to say that's how you did it all along
I have to admit that you've consistently acted in that manner.
When others learned it seemed that you could only see
While others learned from their mistakes, you couldn't seem to learn your lesson.
And someone showed you, then why was it always me
If someone else was showing you, why did I always end up being the one to teach you?
I knew the limit, you were always out of bounds
I knew what was acceptable, but you were always pushing beyond the limits.
How could I trust you when I caught you messing 'round
After catching you behaving unfaithfully, how could I ever trust you again?
Again
Once more.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEOFF DOWNES, STEVE JAMES HOWE, CARL PALMER, JOHN KENNETH WETTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kenstutz3150
always a go to favorite
@LongLiveRocknRollMusic
It's a favourite of mine as well
@geoffreywestphal5629
B side to OTwT. One of my first 45s. Got as much play as the A side!