I Didn't Know What Time It Was
George Shearing Lyrics


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Once I was young
Yesterday, perhaps
Danced with Jim and Paul
And kissed some other chaps

Once I was young
But never was naive
I thought I had a trick or two
Up my imaginary sleeve
And now I know I was naive

I didn't know what time it was
Then I met you
Oh, what a lovely time it was
How sublime it was too

I didn't know what day it was
You held my hand
Warm like the month of May it was
And I'll say it was grand

Grand to be alive, to be young
To be mad, to be yours alone
Grand to see your face, feel your touch
Hear your voice say, "I'm all your own"

I didn't know what year it was
Life was no prize
I wanted love and here it was
Shining out of your eyes
I'm wise and I know what time it is now

Grand to be alive, to be young
To be mad, to be yours alone
Grand to see your face, feel your touch
Hear your voice say, "I'm all your own"

I didn't know what year it was
Life was no prize
I wanted love and here it was




Shining out of your eyes
I'm wise and I know what time it is now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to George Shearing’s song “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” is a beautiful and romantic ode to the feeling of finding love unexpectedly. The song begins with the singer reminiscing about her youth when she danced with Jim and Paul and kissed other chaps. She thought she had a trick or two up her sleeve, but she now realizes that she was naive. The singer then goes on to describe the lovely and sublime time she had when she met her lover. She didn't know what time or day it was, but being with her lover made everything wonderful. The feeling of being alive, young, and madly in love is grand, and the singer is happy to be hers alone.


The second verse starts with the singer describing how bleak life was before she met her lover. She yearned for love, and her lover came into her life shining out of her eyes. The singer is now wise and knows what time it is now. The same feeling of grandeur is used in the chorus as the singer repeats how grand it is to be alive, young, and madly in love. The singer cherishes her lover, and it's evident in the way she describes seeing her face, feeling her touch, and hearing her voice say, "I’m all your own."


Overall, the lyrics to "I Didn’t Know What Time It Was" are about how finding love unexpectedly can bring immense joy and happiness to one's life. The singer describes the feeling of being alive, young, and in love with such sincerity and emotion that the listener cannot help but feel the same way. The song is a beautiful portrayal of the power of love and how it can transform an individual's life.


Line by Line Meaning

Once I was young
In the past, I was not yet old


Yesterday, perhaps
It could have been any time in the past


Danced with Jim and Paul
I danced with men named Jim and Paul


And kissed some other chaps
I kissed other men in addition to Jim and Paul


But never was naive
Despite my youth, I was not gullible


I thought I had a trick or two
I believed I had some skills or knowledge that set me apart


Up my imaginary sleeve
That were only in my imagination


And now I know I was naive
Looking back, I realize I was in fact gullible


I didn't know what time it was
I was unaware of the time of day


Then I met you
Until I encountered you


Oh, what a lovely time it was
It was a delightful period of my life


How sublime it was too
It was wonderful beyond measure


I didn't know what day it was
I was unaware of the current date


You held my hand
You took my hand in yours


Warm like the month of May it was
Your touch was comforting and soothing


And I'll say it was grand
I must acknowledge that it was magnificent


Grand to be alive, to be young
It was splendid to be living and youthful


Grand to see your face, feel your touch
It was magnificent to see and touch you


Hear your voice say, "I'm all your own"
To hear you claim to belong to me was marvelous


Life was no prize
Life was not particularly rewarding or satisfying


I wanted love and here it was
All I desired was love, and I found it with you


Shining out of your eyes
The love I sought was radiating from your eyes


I'm wise and I know what time it is now
Now I am intelligent and aware of the current situation




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: LORENZ HART, RICHARD RODGERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Kevin Parker

I'm 81 and this gets better every time I hear it pure class marvellous

Ken Borden

Great stuff...always! Love it...any time!

Kenneth Gross

A sound that matches Garner and Peterson for originality. Mis you George........

arthur gamez

Sounds so classy and elegant😃👍🎵

Peter Shaw

Good old George. Great stuff. Much appreciated. Thanks.

John Smith

Not the ex-RAF Peter Shaw I used to fly with?

Barry Schlesinger

Jazz timeless.. From 1949.... Still Fresh.....

Ian Rowlandian

Timeless..I guess I,m an old romantic ..Loved Shearing sound when I was 14 and now 60 yrs later still loving the sound

Joe NationAnimation

Yes! The great music always sounds as if it could have been written/recorded "yesterday." It never sounds dated; it could have come from any time.

Massimo Mortari

George Shearing fantastico dopo 74 anni!!!

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