Born in Hope Valley, Rhode Island, with his parents Mr. & Mrs. William Gilman Jr., Gilman first received notice as a performer at age seven, attracting the attention of a local vocal coach, Angela Bacari, who later became his manager. Eventually he met with Ray Benson (of Asleep at the Wheel) who helped him record demos, including "Roly Poly". Two months later he was signed by Sony Music Nashville.
His 2000 debut album, One Voice, had a very widely-played single that crossed over well into top 40 airplay. The album reached multi-platinum status, and earned a Grammy nomination. Generally touted as a child prodigy, Gilman appeared on various talk shows. Classic Christmas (which was certified gold) was released later in the year.
He released Dare to Dream (certified gold) on Sony BMG Music Entertainment/Epic Records in 2001, and in 2003 released Music Through Heartsongs, an album inspired by the poetry of Mattie Stepanek. Later in 2003, he performed at a benefit for The Station nightclub fire. In May 2005, he released Everything and More, his first album since his voice changed.
Billy's latest album, self-titled, was released in September 2006 on the Image Entertainment label. The first single off the upcoming album, Southern Star, heralds a return to his country music roots. Billy is scheduled to begin working on his next album with Eddie Galan and Andrew Lane of Trilogy Productions.
My Time On Earth
Billy Gilman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long as it seems
Is just a moment
In the grand scheme of things
A short refrain
Of life's endless song
Sung only once
My time on Earth
Each breath I breathe
Is one more chance to share my love
With those around me
We come and go
Like shooting stars
The truth be known,
That's all we are
The more that I know
The more I can see
The older I grow
The more I believe
It's not the length of the life
Or the depth of the grave
In the end we'll be measured
By the love that we gave
So my time on Earth
On fate depends
But all that happens
In the space we're meant to live
Depends on me
And choices I face
For better or worse
They're mine to make
The more that I know
The more I can see
The older I grow
The more I believe
It's not the length of the life
Or the depth of the grave
In the end we'll be measured
By the love that we gave
So my time on Earth
Will be well spent
And when I leave this world
I'll leave with no regrets
I'll live and love
For all its worth
'Til I live out
My time on Earth
'Til I live out my time on Earth
In this song, Billy Gilman is reflecting on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of making the most of the time we have. He understands that although life may seem long and significant to us, in the grand scheme of things, it is just a moment. He compares life to a short refrain in life’s endless song, sung only once and then we’re gone.
Gilman uses his breaths as a reminder to share love with those around him. He urges listeners to make the most of every second because we come and go like shooting stars; we are all just temporary. In this world, what we do with our time is in our hands, and the choices we make will shape our legacy.
As the song progresses, Gilman’s optimism shines through, and he expresses how important it is to live and love for all it’s worth. The length of one’s life or the depth of one’s grave does not matter in the end. What counts is the love we gave, and we will be measured by it. Gilman assures listeners that if they live their life with purpose, they will leave this world with no regrets.
Line by Line Meaning
My time on Earth
The duration of my existence in this world
Long as it seems
Although my life seems long, it is infinitesimal in the grand scheme of things
Is just a moment
Compared to the entirety of time and the universe, my life is just a tiny moment
In the grand scheme of things
In comparison to the whole picture of existence in the world and beyond
A short refrain
Our existence is just a brief segment in the never-ending melody of life
Of life's endless song
The infinite and never-ending tune that life creates
Sung only once
We have only one chance to live our life and influence the world
And then we're gone
After our momentary existence, we pass away
Each breath I breathe
Every single breath I take during my lifetime
Is one more chance to share my love
Each breath presents an opportunity for me to spread love to those around me
With those around me
To people in my environment
We come and go
Our existence is transitory
Like shooting stars
Our life is akin to shooting stars that shine briefly before fading away
The truth be known,
To be honest,
That's all we are
Our true nature is that we are only momentary beings
The more that I know
As I become wiser
The more I can see
I am able to visualize more clearly
The older I grow
As I age
The more I believe
My convictions become stronger
It's not the length of the life
The duration of life is not the most important aspect of our existence
Or the depth of the grave
The depth of our grave after we die is not the only factor of importance
In the end we'll be measured
Ultimately, we will be evaluated
By the love that we gave
Our legacy will be defined by the love and kindness we contributed to the world
On fate depends
What occurs in my life is determined by destiny
But all that happens
Everything that transpires
In the space we're meant to live
In the area of the world where we are destined to exist
Depends on me
My actions determine the path my life takes
And choices I face
The options and decisions that are presented to me
For better or worse
Regardless of whether it's a good or bad outcome
They're mine to make
I am responsible for making those choices
Will be well spent
I will use my time wisely
And when I leave this world
After I have passed away
I'll leave with no regrets
I'll be content with the way I lived my life and will not feel remorseful or guilty about anything
I'll live and love
I will exist and spread love
For all its worth
To the fullest extent possible
'Til I live out
Until the conclusion of
My time on Earth
My period of existence in this life
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TOMMY CONNERS, ADAM HUGHES, DAVID VINCENT WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind