Some Other Time
George Shearing & Ernestine Anderson Lyrics

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Twenty-four hours can go so fast,
You look around, the day has passed.
When you're in love,
Time is precious stuff;
Even a lifetime isn't enough.

Where has the time all gone to?
Haven't done half the things we want to.

Oh, well, we'll catch up
Some other time

This day was just a token,
Too many words are still unspoken.
Oh, well, we'll catch up
Some other time.

Just when the fun is starting,
Comes the time for parting,
But let's be glad for what we've had
And what's to come.
There's so much more embracing
Still to be done, but time is racing.
Oh, well, we'll catch up
Some other time.

Didn't get half my wishes,
Never have seen you dry the dishes.
Oh, well, we'll catch up
Some other time.
Can't satisfy my craving,
Never have watched you while you're shaving.
Oh, well, we'll catch up
Some other time.

Just when the fun's beginning,
Comes the final-inning

Haven't had time to wake up,
Seeing you there without your make-up.
Oh, well, we'll catch up
Some other time.

Just when the fun is starting,
Comes the time for parting,
But let's be glad for what we've had
And what's to come.
There's so much more embracing
Still to be done, but time is racing.

Oh, well, we'll catch up
Some other time.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to George Shearing and Ernestine Anderson's Some Other Time reflect the sentiment of two lovers who are struggling to reconcile their desire to make the most of their time together with the realization that there is never enough time. The song opens with the observation that time flies by when you’re in love, and that even a lifetime isn't enough to share with someone special. As the song progresses, the singer reflects on missed opportunities and unfulfilled desires, but chooses to focus on the joy of the present and the promise of the future, rather than dwelling on what could have been.

The song's refrain, “Oh well, we'll catch up Some other time” emphasizes the lovers' optimism in the face of the inevitable passage of time. The chorus recognizes that there are still so many things that they want to do together, but that their time is limited. Rather than dwelling on the things they didn't get to do, they choose to celebrate the moments they shared and look forward to more "embracing" in the future. The final verse acknowledges that, although parting is always bittersweet, there is comfort in knowing that there will always be more time to catch up and create new memories.

Line by Line Meaning

Twenty-four hours can go so fast,
Time flies by quickly.

You look around, the day has passed.
Days go by without us noticing it.

When you're in love,
Love makes time more valuable.

Time is precious stuff;
Time is a valuable asset.

Even a lifetime isn't enough.
Love is precious and a lifetime is not enough to fully experience it.

Where has the time all gone to?
We wonder where all the time went.

Haven't done half the things we want to.
We haven't accomplished all the things we wanted to do.

Oh, well, we'll catch up
We can always do them later.

Some other time
We will do them another time.

This day was just a token,
The day was just a sample of time.

Too many words are still unspoken.
We have so much more to say.