LifeTime
Flash Lyrics


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Carter

Minutes and hours keep on tickin' past
The moves you make today could be your last.
If you're still gambling with, what ain't yours,
If I were you I wouldn't feel that good. *
Well it's the same thing everywhere I go
The same old story, it don't take long to show, oh no

Do you think that I can't see through your veil
Well try to realize you feel your pain
You find it telling people, what's to gain?
Watch out that it won't blow up in your face
Well it's the same thing everywhere I go
The same old story, it don't take long to show, oh no

Give what you can
Take what you need, after the harvest
You must plant a seed
Take what comes
Sunshine or rain don't waste your time
It won't come again

Ah, sisters brothers, friends and others, passing through my days
Give 'em time to remind, in so many ways
Just like a sparrow, not colorful nor beautiful
You can drown me in your song
Like the sun in the rain, oh yea
Minutes and hours they don't make up the time
That you spend from the day your born until you die
Your time is made up from the things that you do

Some people live a life well that's up to you




Well it's the same thing everywhere I go
The same old story, it don't take long to show, oh no

Overall Meaning

The song Lifetime by Flash, takes on the theme of time and how we use it. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, "Minutes and hours keep on tickin' past, The moves you make today could be your last." This is an impactful statement that showcases the importance of living in the present moment and making the most of our time. The lyrics remind the audience that squandering time on gambling or other fruitless activities is not worth it in the long run.


The song also highlights the idea of being authentic and true to oneself. The lyrics state, "Do you think that I can't see through your veil, Well try to realize you feel your pain, You find it telling people, what's to gain? Watch out that it won't blow up in your face." This is a reminder that pretending to be someone you're not comes with consequences and can ultimately lead to negative outcomes. It is better to be honest and genuine, even if it means accepting one's flaws and carrying them with you.


The chorus of the song is a call to action, "Give what you can, Take what you need, after the harvest, You must plant a seed, Take what comes, Sunshine or rain don't waste your time, It won't come again." This represents the idea that life is cyclical and we must give and take, sow and reap, in order to create a fulfilling life. The importance of not wasting time is also emphasized in this section.


Overall, Lifetime by Flash is a powerful song that encourages listeners to live in the present moment and make the most of their time. It promotes being authentic and true to oneself while emphasizing the cyclical nature of life and the importance of giving and taking.


Line by Line Meaning

Minutes and hours keep on tickin' past
Time continues to move forward without stopping


The moves you make today could be your last.
The actions you take today could have permanent consequences


If you're still gambling with, what ain't yours,
If you're still taking risks with things that don't belong to you


If I were you I wouldn't feel that good. *
If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't feel confident about your actions


Well it's the same thing everywhere I go
The same situation occurs wherever I visit


The same old story, it don't take long to show, oh no
The same repeating pattern becomes apparent quickly


Do you think that I can't see through your veil
Do you believe that I'm unable to see past your façade


Well try to realize you feel your pain
Attempt to recognize and address your own hurt


You find it telling people, what's to gain?
You see value in sharing knowledge and experiences


Watch out that it won't blow up in your face
Be cautious that your actions or decisions don't backfire


Give what you can
Be generous with what resources you have to offer


Take what you need, after the harvest
Take only what is necessary after the work is done


You must plant a seed
You must put in effort in order to see growth or results


Take what comes
Accept what happens in life, whether favorable or not


Sunshine or rain don't waste your time
Don't let situations or emotions hinder you from using your time effectively


It won't come again
Life is unpredictable and opportunities may not repeat themselves


Ah, sisters brothers, friends and others, passing through my days
Various people come and go through my life


Give 'em time to remind, in so many ways
Allow people the opportunity to teach or inspire you


Just like a sparrow, not colorful nor beautiful
Similar to an ordinary bird with no distinguishable features


You can drown me in your song
You have the power to deeply affect or move someone with your words or actions


Like the sun in the rain, oh yea
Continuing to shine even when times are tough


Minutes and hours they don't make up the time
Time passing doesn't equate to living a fulfilling life


That you spend from the day your born until you die
The time spent from birth to death


Your time is made up from the things that you do
Your actions determine how you spend your time


Some people live a life well that's up to you
Some individuals live a fulfilling life, and it's up to you to create that for yourself


Well it's the same thing everywhere I go
Reinforcement that similar circumstances are prevalent in various places


The same old story, it don't take long to show, oh no
Patterns and repetition are quickly noticeable




Contributed by Abigail F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@CStack2Ci

This song really brings out the brilliance of Peter's guitar skills, and the amazing chemistry he had with this band! Bennett was a bassist par excellence, Hough was a big-band jazzer in a jam-band formula, and Carter was superb! These guys invented the term "jam band" 30 years ahead of the time! RIP, Peter, and thanks for the music!

@johnrichardson1867

Actually I think Cream might have invented the jam band thing an if not the 1st the ones who brought it to the masses.

@CStack2Ci

@@johnrichardson1867 Good point on that! I just get pissed when folks rave about Phish etc. as revolutionary jam-bands, when others came before them.

@sinfoneura

R.I.P..Peter's influence on the style of YES is clear .. and has a style that partially shares Howe, is evident .. In a way it is the school.

@mawel1955

This has to be Banks' masterpiece. Incredible interplay between guitar and bass, great drumming and vocals - the only thing missing is Tony Kaye's hammond but even without it, this song rivals anything by Yes.

@jonathanrobins558

This is great to listen to using headphones. Phase shifting was memorable back in the early 70s. Peter was very underrated and was incredibly talented. RIP Peter Banks.

@lmp9726

I have all of Flash's albums and this is my favorite tune.

@kirkkelley1760

Layton Payne ditto

@jonpage4029

Mine too saw them in 73

@lmp9726

@@jonpage4029 Lucky bastard. Who opened or did they open for someone else?

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