With his backing group The Shadows, he dominated the British popular music scene in the late 1950s and early 1960s, before and during the The Beatles' first year in the charts. A conversion to Christianity and subsequent softening of his music led to his having more of a pop than rock image. Although never able to achieve the same impact in the United States as in Britain (in spite of several chart hits there), Richard has remained a popular music, film, and television personality in the UK and also retains a following in several other countries.
During the last six decades, Cliff Richard has charted many hit singles, and holds the record (along with Elvis Presley) as the only act to make the UK singles charts in all of its active decades (1950s–2000s). According to his website, he has sold 250 million records over the course of his career. In the British charts alone, Richard has had more than 150 singles, albums and EPs make the top 20.
As Time Goes By
Cliff Richard & The Shadows Lyrics
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The lyrics of Cliff Richard's song Time Drags By express feelings of aimlessness and frustration. The singer compares himself to an old tomcat that has nowhere to go and no purpose in life. He observes the world rushing by and feels disconnected from it, like a dumbfounded frog sitting on a log. The pace of time seems to compound his sense of disillusionment, emphasizing his lack of direction and purpose.
The second verse continues with a pessimistic outlook on life, pointing out that humanity has come a long way, but maybe in the wrong direction. The singer's situation looks bleak, so much so that even a single day feels too long to bear. He wishes there was a way to change things and overcome his current situation. The lyrics conclude by reiterating the sense of stagnation that the singer experiences, emphasizing the slow-moving pace of time. The song as a whole portrays a sense of apathy and boredom and touches on the alienation of modern society.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting in the sun like an old tom cat
Feeling lost and aimless
That donÆt know just where heÆs at
Uncertain about one's direction in life
And I must admit to you
Acknowledging one's current emotional state
Right now I feel that way to
Feeling lost and uncertain
(AinÆt got nowhere)
Having no particular destination or goal
AinÆt got nowhere to go
Having no purpose or direction in life
(Nobody wants)
Feeling ignored or unwanted
Nobody wants to know
Feeling alone and neglected
And time drags by real slow
Feeling stuck and unproductive
Sitting on a log, watch the world go by
Observing the chaos of life
Fat old frogÆs thinking: My oh my
Reflecting on the strangeness of the world
Funny thing that human race
Commenting on the absurdity of society
Rush here, rush there, get no place
Not making any meaningful progress despite being busy
WeÆve come a long way, looks like the wrong way
Feeling like one has made poor choices in life
Now weÆre broke
Facing financial difficulties
Even a day hereÆs too long to stay here
Feeling trapped in a difficult situation
ThatÆs no joke
Expressing the seriousness of the situation
What a day itÆs been and itÆs getting worse
Experiencing a series of negative events
There must be a way to reverse
Hoping for a solution to the current problems
Situations such as these
Difficult situations
If there is, then tell us please
Asking for help or guidance
DonÆt you just know that
Emphasizing how slow time feels
Time drags by real slow
Feeling unproductive and stuck in life
(Slow, slow, slow)
Emphasizing the slowness and lack of progress in life
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN BENNETT, BRUCE WELCH, HANK MARVIN, JOHN ROSTILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind