Borrowed Time
Big Engine Lyrics


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And If I see you tonight
Don't tell me it's alright
Cause you and I know
How this thing goes
We're living on Borrowed Time

I never wanted more
Than I could fit through my busy door
I never heard the footsteps from behind
I never had a clue
I never knew just what I should do
I never heard the voices in my mind

Think of all the things I couldn't say
All the dreams that slipped away
To the hands of idle time
And will these shoulders bear the weight
Or land me in the lonely arms of fate
We're living, we're living on Borrowed Time

Question go unanswered




And stories go untold
The reasons for leaving arrive

Overall Meaning

So cold
But somehow we keep going
Through the trials and the pain
We keep moving forward
Through the pouring rain


The lyrics to Big Engine's song Borrowed Time tell the story of someone who is living on borrowed time and facing the consequences of past actions. The chorus of the song, "And If I see you tonight, don't tell me it's alright, cause you and I know how this thing goes, we're living on borrowed time" sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is meeting with someone and doesn't want to hear any excuses or apologies for past wrongs. They know that their time is limited and they want to focus on making the most of it.


The verses reflect on the regrets and mistakes of the past. The singer never realized the dangers that were lurking around them and didn't take the necessary steps to protect themselves. They are haunted by missed opportunities and the weight of their past. However, they are still hopeful that they can make the most of what little time they have left.


Overall, the song is a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of living in the present. It encourages listeners to not take their time for granted and to make the most of every moment.


Line by Line Meaning

And If I see you tonight
If I happen to see you tonight


Don't tell me it's alright
Don't try to convince me that everything is okay


Cause you and I know
We both understand the truth


How this thing goes
We know how this situation typically plays out


We're living on Borrowed Time
We're running out of time and need to make a move soon


I never wanted more
I was content with what I had


Than I could fit through my busy door
I didn't want more than I could handle


I never heard the footsteps from behind
I was unaware of what was coming from behind me


I never had a clue
I was never fully aware


I never knew just what I should do
I was unsure of the right course of action


I never heard the voices in my mind
I wasn't listening to my intuition or inner voice


Think of all the things I couldn't say
Consider all the thoughts and feelings I didn't express


All the dreams that slipped away
All the aspirations that didn't materialize


To the hands of idle time
Due to the effect of time passing without enough action taken


And will these shoulders bear the weight
Can I handle the burden and consequences


Or land me in the lonely arms of fate
Or leave me with an undesirable outcome


We're living, we're living on Borrowed Time
We don't have much time to spare


Question go unanswered
Uncertainty persists


And stories go untold
Some experiences are never revealed


The reasons for leaving arrive
The motivation for departure emerges


Like the harsh winter's cold
As sudden and drastic as a blast of icy air


We try to hold on tight
We cling to what we think is important


To what we think is right
To what we believe is the correct decision


But in the end, it's just a fleeting fight
Ultimately, it's a short-lived battle


And though we try to hide
Even if we pretend not to see


From the secrets we keep inside
We still carry around private information


They always seem to come to light
Eventually, those secrets will be exposed


And no matter how hard we try to climb
Regardless of how much effort we put in


We're still just running out of time
We're still in a rush


We're living, we're living on Borrowed Time
Life is a limited resource


So if I see you tonight
If I happen to see you this evening


Don't tell me it's all right
Don't try to convince me that everything is okay


Cause deep down we both know
We both understand the truth beneath the surface


That it's time for us to go
It's time for us to part ways


We're living, we're living on Borrowed Time
We have a limited, possibly expiring, amount of time together




Contributed by Gavin R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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