All at Once
Calder Quartet Lyrics


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We were born without time, nameless in the arms
Of a mother, a father and God
When the world would wait for us, a thousand years in the crush
Of our eyes, fearless and awed
Quietly we'd fade in to sleep, with nothing on our minds

Then we longed to be loved, in the rush we'd become
Some things we thought we'd never be
We were surprised by how hard, left wary and scarred
From the nights spent feeling incomplete
And all those evenings swearing at the sky, wishing for more time
All the promises we broke when we tried, just wasting all our time

We grow old all at once, and it comes like a punch
In the gut, in the back, in the face
When it seems someone's lied and our parents have died
And we hold on to each other in their place
And I feel the water rising around us, and maybe that's okay
Yeah I feel the world changing all at once, I guess it will be okay





Then we all had one hope, there was someone looking down
To return our bodies to each other, and the ground

Overall Meaning

The Calder Quartet's song "All At Once" is an introspective look at the human experience of aging and the passage of time. The opening line, "We were born without time, nameless in the arms of a mother, a father and God", sets the stage for a contemplation of the mystery of existence. The image of being born without time is an acknowledgement that time, as we know it, is a construct of human perception. The mention of a mother, a father and God speaks to the idea that we are all born into a system of relationships that shape our lives.


As the song progresses, the lyrics delve into the longing for love and the difficulty of navigating the complexities of life. The line "All those evenings swearing at the sky, wishing for more time" captures the frustration of feeling like there is never enough time to truly live and experience everything that we desire. The chorus brings us to the realization that we grow old all at once, that the passage of time can feel sudden and violent, and that we are left grasping for something to hold onto. The final verse offers a glimmer of hope that there is something beyond this life, that our bodies will be returned to the ground, and that we will be reunited with those we have lost.


Overall, the song's message is one of acceptance of the inevitability of aging and the passage of time, and a recognition that we are all part of a larger cosmic mystery.


Line by Line Meaning

We were born without time, nameless in the arms
We came into this world without any concept of time, without any name and helpless, dependent on the care and love of our parents and God.


Of a mother, a father and God
Our existence revolved around the nurturing and protection provided by our mother and father, as well as the belief in a higher power.


When the world would wait for us, a thousand years in the crush
As newborns, time seemed infinite and the world was waiting for us to grow, explore and fulfill our potential despite the challenges that we may face.


Of our eyes, fearless and awed
Our eyes reflected a sense of wonder and courage, as we faced a world full of possibilities and unknowns with an optimistic outlook and an open heart.


Quietly we'd fade in to sleep, with nothing on our minds
As infants, we would drift into a peaceful slumber, devoid of any worries or fears, with a blank slate from which to start anew upon waking up.


Then we longed to be loved, in the rush we'd become
As we grew older, we yearned for love and acceptance, and the pace of life seemed to quicken as we struggled to keep up with the demands of adulthood.


Some things we thought we'd never be
We faced unexpected challenges and hardships that seemed insurmountable or beyond our control, forcing us to confront and overcome our limitations and doubts.


We were surprised by how hard, left wary and scarred
The difficulties we faced tested our strength and resilience, leaving us cautious and wounded as we tried to navigate through life's obstacles.


From the nights spent feeling incomplete
We experienced moments of emptiness and insecurity, questioning our purpose and seeking fulfillment.


And all those evenings swearing at the sky, wishing for more time
We would curse fate and yearn for more time, feeling like life was slipping away too rapidly and that we had more to accomplish and experience.


All the promises we broke when we tried, just wasting all our time
We would make commitments that we could not keep or priorities that were misaligned with our true desires, leading to regret and a sense of wasted effort.


We grow old all at once, and it comes like a punch
The transition from youth to old age happens suddenly and unexpectedly, hitting us with a jarring realization that our time on this earth is finite and that we must make the most of every moment.


In the gut, in the back, in the face
The realization of our mortality and the loss of loved ones can cause physical pain and emotional turmoil.


When it seems someone's lied and our parents have died
The loss of our parents or other loved ones can feel like a betrayal or a deception, as we struggle to come to terms with the harsh reality of death.


And we hold on to each other in their place
We seek comfort and support from those who remain, preserving the memories and legacy of those who have passed on.


And I feel the water rising around us, and maybe that's okay
As the tide of life ebbs and flows, we must adapt and embrace the changes that come our way, finding peace and acceptance in the face of adversity.


Yeah I feel the world changing all at once, I guess it will be okay
Despite the upheavals and uncertainties of life, we can find solace in the knowledge that change is inevitable and that we have the power within us to weather even the toughest storms.


Then we all had one hope, there was someone looking down
In times of grief and uncertainty, we may turn to a higher power, seeking comfort and guidance from a force beyond our understanding.


To return our bodies to each other, and the ground
In death, we return to the earth from which we came and join the eternal cycle of life and rebirth, uniting with those who have passed on before us.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Mikel Frans Jollett

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@lilb1190

A breakup song that isn't about someone cheating or being a bad person, just about realizing you aren't in love anymore and struggling to accept it. Its about time someone wrote a song with that much thought.

@Will-qm1id

I agree with most of what you said, but I don't think its best described as break up song -- which implies a short term relationship.

It seems more about a married couple that grows older, and both slowly realize they aren't very satisfied with each other, or their life, and they have no idea what to do about it..

@harleenschenk4469

lilb1190 if you watch the end of the video you can see their are putting on wedding rings

@TMHARBULAK

Herleen Sethi *They are. Not "Their" (possessive)

@TMHARBULAK

Herleen Sethi I speak four languages, so don't come back at me with some bullshit about ESL

@harleenschenk4469

ESL

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@stevil1300x

One of the most brilliant bands making music today.

@SkunkFunk927

"Your face so twisted and your eyes alight I want to tell you I can change the way you cry at night, but I'd be lying." That line hits like a train...

@Zainabative

To arm your fears like soldiers and slay them. Brilliant lyrics!

@johnhapp3029

Absolutely correct soldiers whether he or she picks up wounded souls along life's path an makes them feel wanted and needed those are what you call heroes even for just one day like David Bowie would sing about

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