Praying For Time
George Michael Lyrics

These are the days of the open hand
These are the days of generosity and giving without expectation of return

They will not be the last
Such generous times will eventually come to an end

Look around now
Observe the current situation

These are the days of the beggars and the choosers
These are the times when some people are destitute and completely helpless, while others can afford to be picky about their options and choices

This is the year of the hungry man
This is the era when people are starving and suffering from lack of basic necessities

Whose place is in the past
The idea of hunger and scarcity belongs to an earlier time and should not be present in the modern world

Hand in hand with ignorance
People's lack of knowledge and awareness further exacerbates the problem of hunger

And legitimate excuses
People come up with valid reasons for why they cannot or will not take action against hunger and deprivation

The rich declare themselves poor
Wealthy people try to downplay their affluence and pretend to be in the same boat as everyone else

And most of us are not sure
The general population is not certain if they have more than they need or if they are indeed poor

If we have too much
People question whether they have an excessive amount of resources

But we'll take our chances
Regardless of the uncertainty, people will still take risks

'Cause God's stopped keeping score
Since there is no divine judgment or punishment, people are more inclined to take advantage of opportunities or indulge in their desires

I guess somewhere along the way
At some point in human history or development

He must have let us all out to play
God must have allowed people to explore their own free will and choices

Turned his back and all God's children
God has seemingly withdrawn from the affairs of humans

Crept out the back door
People have quietly and surreptitiously left behind their ethical and moral codes

And it's hard to love, there's so much to hate
There are so many reasons to feel anger, disgust, and resentment towards the world

Hanging on to hope
Despite the despair and negativity, people are still trying to hold on to their optimism and faith

When there is no hope to speak of
Despite the effort, it is evident that there are little to no reasons to be confident or positive about the future

And the wounded skies above say it's much, much too late
The natural world is suffering from the consequences of human ignorance and carelessness, and it's almost beyond redemption

Well, maybe we should all be praying for time
Perhaps it's time to reflect, repent, and hope that time can offer us a chance to make things right

These are the days of the empty hand
These are the times when people have nothing to offer, whether materially or emotionally

Oh, you hold on to what you can
Despite the scarcity, people still try to cling to whatever they deem important or valuable

And charity is a coat you wear twice a year
Charity, generosity, and compassion are seldom apparent and only surface in times of special occasion or holiday season

This is the year of the guilty man
This is the time when people with power, privilege, and authority are the most responsible for the problems that plague the world

Your television takes a stand
People's perception and understanding of the world is shaped and influenced by the media and entertainment industry

And you find that what was over there is over here
People realize that the issues and challenges that used to be far away or irrelevant are actually affecting them at home and in their personal lives

So you scream from behind your door
People express their frustrations and grievances in private, rather than engaging in any meaningful social engagement or activism

Say, "What's mine is mine and not yours"
People adopt an attitude of possessiveness and individualism, unwilling to share their resources or work together for the greater good

I may have too much but I'll take my chances
People are reluctant to give up their advantages or admit that they have more than others, but they are willing to take the risk of being judged or criticized

'Cause God's stopped keeping score
Just like before, people assume that there is no supreme authority that dictates what is right or wrong and that their actions will not have any consequences

And you cling to the things they sold you
People are attached to and dependent on the products, beliefs, and values that have been marketed and indoctrinated to them

Did you cover your eyes when they told you
People may have been oblivious, ignorant or in denial about the manipulation and deception they were subjected to

That he can't come back
That it is unlikely that things will ever go back to how they were before

'Cause he has no children to come back for
Because there are no future generations or offspring to inherit the earth, taking care of the environment and preserving the planet becomes less of a priority

It's hard to love, there's so much to hate
The negative and destructive forces that are prevalent in the world make it challenging to feel or express love, kindness, and compassion

Hanging on to hope when there is no hope to speak of
Despite the bleakness and despair, people still try to hold on to the unlikely possibility that things can get better or that there is a greater purpose or meaning to life

And the wounded skies above say it's much too late
The natural world and the environment have already suffered beyond repair, and the damage done by humans cannot be undone

So maybe we should all be praying for time
Perhaps the only recourse for humanity is to pray or hope that time can offer them a second chance or a fresh start