Don't Waste Time
Carter Hulsey Lyrics


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He said son I know you're young,
But there's something you should know.
There's more to life than how you pay the rent.
And I haven't given much, but what I have to you I'll give.
The same way that my daddy gave to me.

Don't waste time chasing gold.
Just use your heart, and spare your soul.
It's only when that you can't hold,
Don't you know?
Yeah don't you know.

A thousand miles from home,
We're years down the road.
Just wasting time on another man's dream.
Well if lies were money, then I'd be a king for a day.
I remember what you said to me that night.
It chills me like a cold winter breeze.

Don't waste time chasing gold.
Just use your heart, spare your soul.
It's only when that you can't hold,
So I packed my bags, and I headed home.

Don't waste time chasing gold.
Just use your heart, and spare your soul.
It's only when that you can't hold,




Don't you know?
Yeah don't you know.

Overall Meaning

In Carter Hulsey's song "Don't Waste Time," the lyrics provide a reminder that there is more to life than just making money and chasing after material possessions. The song starts off with a piece of advice shared by a father figure to the singer, indicating that there is more to life than how one pays the rent. The father figure tells the singer that he will give him what he has in the same way that his father gave to him. This suggests that the important things in life are passed down from generation to generation, and it is up to each person to pay attention and learn from these valuable lessons.


In the next verse, the singer expresses that they feel lost and unsure of their life's direction, wasting time on someone else's dream. The verse paints a bleak picture of hopelessness, where the only way to become wealthy is through deceitful means. This makes the listener question the validity of the pursuit of wealth and material possessions. The "cold winter breeze" mentioned in the song could be a metaphor for a moment of clarity in the singer's life, where they realize the truth behind the words of the father figure.


The chorus encapsulates the meaning of the song, providing a reminder to the listener not to waste time chasing after something that is ultimately meaningless. Instead, the suggestion is to use one's heart and spare their soul, suggesting that an emphasis should be placed on building fulfilling relationships and experiences that provide genuine joy and satisfaction, rather than just accumulating wealth.


Line by Line Meaning

He said son I know you're young,
The singer's father is telling him that he understands that he is young.


But there's something you should know.
The father has some important information to convey to his son.


There's more to life than how you pay the rent.
Life is more than just making enough money to pay for basic necessities.


And I haven't given much, but what I have to you I'll give.
The father hasn't had much to give his son, but he will give what he can.


The same way that my daddy gave to me.
The father will pass down what he received from his own father.


Don't waste time chasing gold.
The singer advises against pursuing wealth at the expense of other things in life.


Just use your heart, and spare your soul.
The singer suggests following passions and desires while remaining true to oneself and one's values.


It's only when that you can't hold,
Once something is lost or unattainable, it is realized how valuable it truly was.


Don't you know?
The artist questions whether the listener understands this message.


A thousand miles from home,
The artist is far from his original home.


We're years down the road.
Time has passed since the singer left home.


Just wasting time on another man's dream.
The artist was pursuing someone else's goals instead of his own.


Well if lies were money, then I'd be a king for a day.
The singer reflects on how much he has wasted time pursuing things that were not true or valuable.


I remember what you said to me that night.
The singer recalls an important conversation with his father.


It chills me like a cold winter breeze.
The impact of his father's words was powerful and lasting.


So I packed my bags, and I headed home.
The artist is returning home, having realized the importance of family and personal values over material things.


Don't waste time chasing gold.
The artist reiterates his earlier advice against pursuing wealth at the expense of other things.


Just use your heart, and spare your soul.
He emphasizes the importance of following one's passions and values.


It's only when that you can't hold,
He repeats the idea that true value is realized once something is lost or unattainable.


Don't you know?
The artist once again questions whether the listener understands the message.




Contributed by Arianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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