Their first album, 1982's Kissing to Be Clever, became a major international hit, spawning the hit singles "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (which went 'all the way' in the BBC-Charts in late 1982), "Time (Clock of the Heart)", and "I'll Tumble 4 Ya". Unique in his eccentric manner of dress and androgynous look, Boy George became a worldwide celebrity.
Their second album, 1983's Colour By Numbers also did extremely well, giving the band its second number one hit in the UK with "Karma Chameleon." Karma Chameleon reached No.1 in many countries and they even starred in UK's Top of the Pops in September 1983. However, trouble was brewing within the Culture Club camp. Unknown to the public, George was having an affair with drummer Jon Moss. The affair (which lasted over four years) was often problematic and the pressure to hide the relationship started to take its toll.
The band also started to lose its place musically. Their next album, 1984's Waking Up With the House on Fire was a major disappointment. Though the band gained a small comeback with 1986's From Luxury to Heartache (thanks to the hit "Move Away"), both George's and Jon's fights created much tension, eventually leading to the breakup of the band. Around this time, George also became addicted to heroin, which created a frenzy with the tabloids. Eventually, George would let go of the habit and begin his solo career. A minor hit from the "Hiding Out" soundtrack called "Live My Life" peaked at U.S. #40. While George scored several hits in Europe and finally hit the U.S. top 20 with 1992's "The Crying Game", he was never able to reach the success he achieved with Culture Club.
In 1998, the band put their problems aside and decided to do a reunion tour. Kicked off with a performance on VH1 Storytellers, the tour was a major success. Shortly after, Culture Club recorded a new album titled Don't Mind If I Do. Though never released in the U.S., the first single, "I Just Wanna Be Loved" (UK #4), was featured on a compilation based around the Storytellers performance.
The band went on to tour for a few more years. Recently, however, Culture Club has been inactive, largely due to Boy George's concentration on his successful career as a DJ. In late 2006, Culture Club announced a reunion - albeit, without Boy George as lead singer.
Time
Culture Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sink me in a river of tears
This could be the best place yet
But you must overcome your fears
In time it could have been so much more
The time is precious I know
In time it could have been so much more
Time won't give me time
And time makes lovers feel like they've got somethin' real
But you and me, we know they've got nothin' but time
And time won't give me time won't give me time
Don't make me feel any colder
Time is like a clock in my heart
Touch, we touch, was the heat too much
I felt I lost you from the start
In time it could have been so much more
The time is precious I know
In time it could have been so much more
The time has nothin' to show because
Time won't give me time
And time makes lovers feel like they've got somethin' real
But you and me, we know they've got nothin' but time
And time won't give me time won't give me time
Time, time, time
In time it could have been so much more
The time is precious I know
In time it could have been so much more
The time has nothin' to show because
Time won't give me time
And time makes lovers feel like they've got somethin' real
But you and me, we know they've got nothin' but time
And you know time won't give me time
And time makes lovers feel like they've got somethin' real
But you and me, we know they've got nothin' but time
And you know time won't give me time
And time makes lovers feel
like they have something real, but the truth is they don't have anything except time. These lyrics speak to the idea that time can be a powerful force, but it can also be confining and limiting when it comes to love and relationships. The singer is pleading with his partner not to hold him too close, not to become too emotionally attached, because he knows that time is fleeting and ultimately will not be on their side.
The imagery in the first verse is particularly striking. The line "Sink me in a river of tears" creates a vivid picture of someone who is engulfed by emotion and struggling to hold on. The second verse speaks to the idea of missed opportunities and lost chances, reinforcing the theme of time as a limited resource that cannot be regained.
Overall, "Time" is a poignant song about the complexities of love and the ways in which time can both help and hinder us in our pursuits.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't put your head on my shoulder
I am not interested in physical intimacy or emotional connection with you
Sink me in a river of tears
Your actions are making me very emotional and upset
This could be the best place yet
But you must overcome your fears
We have potential to build something great but you need to work through your issues first
In time it could have been so much more
The time is precious I know
In time it could have been so much more
The time has nothin' to show because
If we had more time, our relationship could have been amazing, but unfortunately, we do not and therefore, it did not work out
Time won't give me time
And time makes lovers feel like they've got somethin' real
But you and me, we know they've got nothin' but time
And time won't give me time won't give me time
Time is not on our side and it is causing us to feel like we have something meaningful, when in reality, all we have is time running out
Don't make me feel any colder
Your actions are pushing me away and making me feel disconnected and uncared for
Time is like a clock in my heart
I am acutely aware of the passing of time and how it is affecting my emotions
Touch, we touch, was the heat too much
I felt I lost you from the start
Our physical intimacy could not make up for the feeling that we were never truly connected from the beginning
And you know time won't give me time
I am aware that I cannot control the passage of time and how it affects our relationship
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), CTM Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George O'Dowd, Jonathan Moss, Michael Craig, Roy Ernest Hay
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tomgeorge9025
My wife sang this song 6 months before she passed away to my girls,,
She knew she was sick,,
And that night she kept saying show your dad this video of us dancing and singing this song..
Time did not give us enough time…
I was 49 when the love of my life passed away…
Gone to soon, only those who went through this know the feeling….
Miss you baby girl..
My true Endless ❤️ love❤️❤️💔💔💔💔💔💔❤️❤️❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️
Edit.for my baby girl 💔💔💔
It’s been 2 years 5 months since you passed away,, and you still have my heart, even in death my love for you is so strong and wanting to be with you just to hold you and kiss you my baby girl ..
Kathy you took my heart with you, and I will never be the same without you here with me…Xxxxxoooo..
@play030
Been a fan since the 80s. Never ever even thought about his sexuality. All I knew was that this man had a gift and he shared it with the world.
@shanettacane7101
Yep say that, him and Michael from WHAM.
@mzh8625
Yesssss
@hollyphelps5755
I dig your energy and concur with your statement. ✌
@toniwilliams9817
And no one had an issue with him wearing lipstick...we didn’t even care because he could sing lol they had great songs!
@michellebolden3143
Hear-Hear❤
@user-xk8yv9po2t
MY BROTHER LOVED CULTURE CLUB AND THIS TUNE ALWAYS REMINDS ME OF HIM. HE DIED OF H.I.V. ON SEPTEMBER 12TH 1992. “REST EASY DARREN” ❤
@opal6873
Sorry for your loss. ❤
@cynthiamadrid1430
I lost friends....It was a good time to stay celibate.
@edwardfaris8516
Well given HIV doesn't technically exist...I beg to differ...