And The Clock Goes Round
Elton John Lyrics


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I came down here just to waste some time
To get a little rest and to ease my mind
I didn't calculate it when I walked in the door
I only thought I'd stay for a minute or more

First I saw the lights on the ceiling dim
The stale perfume yeah, and ???
My first impression was to get outside
But then I saw you crying, crying by the fireside

The pendulum swings
Going to and fro
And the clock goes round
Says it's time to go
And the clock goes round
And the hours fly past
Slow down pendulum you're moving much too fast

Now it's gone kind of quiet but I seem to see
That the only people here in the room are you and me




But I don't mind girl, girl that's all right
As long as you're gonna be with me, gonna be with me all night

Overall Meaning

The song "And The Clock Goes Round" by Elton John is about impulsively wandering into a bar or nightclub to pass the time and clear one's head. The first few lines of the song showcase the singer's intention to "waste some time" and enjoy a bit of rest. However, the singer didn't anticipate the ambiance of the environment, which is hinted at with imagery such as the "lights on the ceiling dim" and the "stale perfume." This leads the singer to consider leaving, but something stops him; he notices a woman crying by the fireside.


The woman crying seems to hold the singer's attention, and this focus is heightened with the use of repetition in the lyrics "And the clock goes round / Says it's time to go / And the clock goes round / And the hours fly past." The clock's movement is juxtaposed with the emotional scene the singer is observing, creating a sense of urgency. This urgency is further emphasized in the final lines of the song where the singer is content with staying in the quiet room "as long as you're gonna be with me, gonna be with me all night," indicating a certain sense of bliss or relief amidst the chaos of the nightlife.


In conclusion, "And The Clock Goes Round" touches upon themes of impulsive decisions, irrationality, and the need for comfort amidst confusion. The seemingly random encounter with the woman crying by the fireside symbolizes the beauty in unexpected moments, and the clock's constant movement highlights the importance of living in the present.


Line by Line Meaning

I came down here just to waste some time
I came here without any purpose just to relax


To get a little rest and to ease my mind
I came here to free my mind from any work or thought


I didn't calculate it when I walked in the door
I didn't plan on staying for long


I only thought I'd stay for a minute or more
My plan was to leave quickly


First I saw the lights on the ceiling dim
I saw a dull lighting at first


The stale perfume yeah, and ???
There was a strange smell


My first impression was to get outside
My initial thought was to leave the place


But then I saw you crying, crying by the fireside
But I noticed you were crying by the fireplace


The pendulum swings
The pendulum is moving back and forth


Going to and fro
Swings are moving from one direction to another


And the clock goes round
The clock is ticking


Says it's time to go
The clock indicates that it's time to leave


And the clock goes round
The clock keeps ticking


And the hours fly past
Time passes quickly


Slow down pendulum you're moving much too fast
I wish time would slow down


Now it's gone kind of quiet but I seem to see
It's quiet now, but it looks like it's just you and me


That the only people here in the room are you and me
It seems like there's nobody else in the room except us


But I don't mind girl, girl that's all right
But I'm not bothered, it's okay


As long as you're gonna be with me, gonna be with me all night
As long as you're here, I don't mind spending the night




Contributed by Elena T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Peter Harthen


on Sacrifice

not like todays crap

Peter Harthen


on Sacrifice

Even at 56 years old, this music still sounds so good to me, how music should sound.....

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