The Time Has Come
Christy Moore Lyrics


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The time has come to part, my love
I must go away
I leave you now, my darling girl
No longer can I stay

My heart like yours is breaking
Together we'll prove strong
The road I take will show the world
The suffering that goes on

The gentle clasp that holds my hand
Must loosen and let go
Please help me through the door
Though instinct tells you no

Our vow it is eternal
And will bring you dreadful pain
But if our demands aren't recognized
Don't call me back again

How their sorrow touched us all
In those final days
When it was the time she held the door
And touched his sallow face

The flame he lit by leaving
Is still burning strong
By the lights it's plain to see
The suffering still goes on

The time has come to part, my love
I must go away




I leave you now, my darling girl
No longer can I stay

Overall Meaning

In Christy Moore's song "The Time Has Come," the singer speaks to his beloved and explains that he must leave her, even though it breaks both their hearts. He must embark on a journey that will reveal the pain and suffering that exists in the world. The song describes the difficulty of letting go and the unbearable pain of leaving someone you love, but it also highlights the importance of making a stand for what you believe and standing strong in the face of adversity.


The verse "The gentle clasp that holds my hand, must loosen and let go, please help me through the door, though instinct tells you no" speaks to the agony of separation, suggesting that the goodbye must be soft but firm. The singer is asking his lover to let go of him so that he can go on and do something to make a difference in the world. The final verse speaks to the power of a single act, the leaving of a flame that continues to burn, bringing light and hope to others.


Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on the human condition, the strength that we are capable of summoning and the pain that we must sometimes endure to do what's right.


Line by Line Meaning

The time has come to part, my love
It's time for us to separate, my dear


I must go away
I have to leave


I leave you now, my darling girl
I'm saying goodbye to you, my beloved


No longer can I stay
I cannot remain here any longer


My heart like yours is breaking
Just like you, my heart is shattered


Together we'll prove strong
We will show our resilience together


The road I take will show the world
My journey will expose the suffering in the world


The suffering that goes on
The pain that persists


The gentle clasp that holds my hand
Your loving touch that holds my hand


Must loosen and let go
You must release me


Please help me through the door
Guide me as I exit


Though instinct tells you no
Even if your intuition disagrees


Our vow it is eternal
Our promise lasts forever


And will bring you dreadful pain
Keeping that promise will cause you immense suffering


But if our demands aren't recognized
If our requests are unacknowledged


Don't call me back again
Don't request for me to return


How their sorrow touched us all
Their sadness affected us deeply


In those final days
As the end approached


When it was the time she held the door
When she had to open the door


And touched his sallow face
And held his sickly face


The flame he lit by leaving
The change he initiated upon his departure


Is still burning strong
Is still a significant influence


By the lights it's plain to see
It's evident under scrutiny


The suffering still goes on
The pain still persists




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LONNIE WILSON, SUSAN LONGACRE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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