Father Time
Bon Jovi Lyrics


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Father time
I couldn't make her wanna stay
I couldn't seem to find the words to say
Now I have to live in yesterday

Father time
I thought that you were on my side
I thought that I could keep our love alive
I thought that I could keep her satisfied

The clock keeps tickin' and I keep on thinkin' 'bout you
I'm knockin' at the door of your heart but I can't break through

Father time
Grant me just another day
Of our love I tried to make her stay
Father time
Don't tell me it's too late
All my life you know that I would wait
Father time

Now she's gone
She didn't even say good-bye
I guess she didn't have the heart to try
She didn't even have the guts to lie

Father time
Only you can turn the page
And close the curtain on this empty stage
Only you can take my pain away

And my heart keeps breakin' and my body keeps aching for you
It's time to hold on but there's nothin' left to hold on to

Father time
Grant me just another day
Of our love I tried to make her stay
Father time
Don't tell me it's too late
All my life you know that I would wait
Father time

Father, father can't you see I'm depending on you
I'm dying at the door to your heart and I can't break through

Father time
Grant me just another day
Of our love I tried to make her stay
Father time
Don't tell me it's too late
All my life you know that I would wait
Father time





She's your child make her mine
Father time

Overall Meaning

The song "Father Time" by Bon Jovi is a heart-wrenching ballad about a failed relationship and the singer's inability to come to terms with it. The song's central theme is the relentless passage of time and how it leaves us with nothing but memories. The lyrics talk about the singer's struggle to keep his love alive and his inability to make his partner stay with him. He is haunted by memories of the past and the realization that he cannot go back to it. He pleads with Father Time to grant him another day with his love, but he knows deep down that it's too late.


"Father Time" is a poignant meditation on the fleeting nature of love and the inevitability of time. The song's lyrics are deeply emotional, and Bon Jovi's powerful vocals perfectly convey the melancholic mood of the song. The clock imagery used throughout the lyrics suggests an ongoing struggle with time and the impossibility of holding onto the past. The line "I'm knockin' at the door of your heart, but I can't break through" is particularly poignant, highlighting the singer's desperation at trying to salvage his relationship.


In conclusion, "Father Time" is a moving ballad about lost love, regret, and the inevitability of time. It's a deeply personal song that describes a feeling that most people can relate to at some point in their lives.


Line by Line Meaning

Father time
The concept of time is personified as if it were a father figure.


I couldn't make her wanna stay
The singer is unable to convince someone they care about to remain in their life.


I couldn't seem to find the words to say
The singer struggled to find the right words to express their feelings effectively.


Now I have to live in yesterday
The artist regrets their inability to hold onto what they had, and feels stuck dwelling on past memories rather than moving forward.


I thought that you were on my side
The artist addresses Father Time as if it were an ally, representing a belief that time will heal all wounds and help them move on.


I thought that I could keep our love alive
The singer believed that they could sustain a romantic relationship they greatly valued.


I thought that I could keep her satisfied
The singer believed they could fulfill the needs of their partner well enough to maintain a healthy relationship.


The clock keeps tickin' and I keep on thinkin' 'bout you
Despite time passing, the artist still maintains thoughts and feelings regarding a past lover that they are struggling to let go of.


I'm knockin' at the door of your heart but I can't break through
The artist is attempting to reconnect with someone they cared for but are being left unfulfilled in their efforts.


Grant me just another day
The artist is asking for more time to try and fix a relationship they value tremendously.


Of our love I tried to make her stay
The singer attempted to convince their love to remain in their life.


Don't tell me it's too late
The artist is pleading with Father Time, asking for more time to improve their relationship with the one they love.


All my life you know that I would wait
The singer has been hoping for a resolution with their former partner for a long time, and is willing to continue waiting for it.


Now she's gone
The person the singer cares for has left them, likely on bad terms which causes the singer a great deal of heartbreak.


She didn't even say good-bye
The singer's partner did not even offer the simple courtesy of a farewell when they parted ways.


I guess she didn't have the heart to try
The artist is now left wondering if their partner ever truly cared for them at all, or if they had given up on making the relationship work altogether.


She didn't even have the guts to lie
The artist's partner did not even care enough to fabricate an excuse for their departure - they simply left without a word.


Only you can turn the page
The singer is asking Father Time to help them move on from the past and look towards the future.


And close the curtain on this empty stage
The singer is hoping to leave behind a period of loss and disappointment, symbolized by an empty theater.


Only you can take my pain away
The artist is putting a lot of their hope into the eventual passing of time, seeing it as the only cure to their heartbreak.


And my heart keeps breakin' and my body keeps aching for you
The artist's emotions continue to weigh heavily on them, causing significant physical and emotional distress.


It's time to hold on but there's nothin' left to hold on to
The artist is attempting to stay strong and retain a glimmer of hope, but is struggling to do so as they feel they have lost everything of value.


She's your child make her mine
The singer is essentially begging Father Time to help them regain the love they once felt for the person they admire.




Contributed by Kylie V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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