Time And Wasted Bullets
Children 18:3 Lyrics


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I guess I imagined them myself
When no one was looking
And even though the words came from my pen
As yet, I haven't the meaning

Vex me not in truth or lie
By cross and dish or dove
Someone's keeping secrets here
And it feels like an inside job

Maybe if I tried just a little bit harder
Oh, time and wasted bullets
Oh, we tried

Maybe if I could escape through one more night
I would then feel at home

But looking again revealed a pole hanging a serpent
One hundred years flew by in a moment
And all was unimportant

Will you question who I am?
Would you counter these perceptions?
I don't claim to have the answers here
But I can give you directions

Maybe if I tried just a little bit harder
Oh, time and wasted bullets
Oh, we tried

Maybe if I could escape through one more night
I would then feel at home
I said, please let me try just to wait through one more night
Maybe then I'd be home

Oh, time and wasted bullets
Oh, and nothing here is as it should be




Oh, in time we'll make it through this
Oh, in time

Overall Meaning

The lyrics "I guess I imagined them myself, when no one was looking / And even though the words came from my pen, as yet, I haven't the meaning" express confusion about the origins of the singer's own thoughts and words. It suggests that they are grappling with a sense of disconnection or alienation from their own creativity or inner process. The next lines, "Vex me not in truth or lie / By cross and dish or dove / Someone's keeping secrets here / And it feels like an inside job" further expand on this idea, painting the picture of a world where truth and lies are hard to distinguish, where secrets are being kept and the singer feels betrayed by those close to them. There is a sense of paranoia and confusion.


The chorus, "Maybe if I tried just a little bit harder / Oh, time and wasted bullets / Oh, we tried / Maybe if I could escape through one more night / I would then feel at home", speaks to the singer's desire for a sense of belonging and purpose. They imagine that by putting in more effort, or by seizing an opportunity to "escape", they might be able to find a place where they feel at home. However, there is a sense of defeatism in the way they sing about "time and wasted bullets", as though they have already tried and failed.


The final lines, "Oh, time and wasted bullets / Oh, and nothing here is as it should be / Oh, in time we'll make it through this / Oh, in time", return to the theme of time as a wasted resource. The singer still feels lost and disconnected, but holds onto the hope that eventually things will become clearer and more meaningful.


Line by Line Meaning

I guess I imagined them myself
I created my own thoughts and ideas in my head


When no one was looking
When I was alone or without anyone paying attention to me


And even though the words came from my pen
Although I wrote the words down myself


As yet, I haven't the meaning
I still don't understand the true significance of what I wrote


Vex me not in truth or lie
Don't bother me with false or true accusations


By cross and dish or dove
Through any means, whether it be good or evil


Someone's keeping secrets here
There are things being concealed or hidden from me


And it feels like an inside job
It seems like the secrets are being kept by someone from within my own group


Maybe if I tried just a little bit harder
Perhaps if I put in a bit more effort


Oh, time and wasted bullets
Time and resources have been unnecessarily expended


Oh, we tried
We made an effort to accomplish something


Maybe if I could escape through one more night
If I could just get through one more difficult situation


I would then feel at home
I would finally be comfortable in my surroundings


But looking again revealed a pole hanging a serpent
Upon closer inspection, I discovered something negative or dangerous


One hundred years flew by in a moment
Time seemed to pass very quickly


And all was unimportant
Everything that had happened was meaningless


Will you question who I am?
Do you doubt my identity?


Would you counter these perceptions?
Would you challenge my beliefs?


I don't claim to have the answers here
I'm not saying that I have all the solutions


But I can give you directions
I can suggest ways to proceed


I said, please let me try just to wait through one more night
I begged for the chance to persevere for one more night


Maybe then I'd be home
Perhaps then I would feel like I belong


Oh, and nothing here is as it should be
Things are not the way they ought to be


Oh, in time we'll make it through this
Eventually, we will overcome this difficulty


Oh, in time
Given enough time




Contributed by Madison B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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