It Takes Time
Glen Phillips Lyrics


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The water\'s getting deeper and I can\'t feel my feet
I keep on bailing buckets, but it flows right back to me
And everything is put away, the children are asleep
But the water\'s getting deeper, and I can\'t feel my feet
How am I gonna make time
Oh, this is gonna take time
How am I gonna make time
Everything looks different, colors all seem strange
And light comes down in shafts, here underneath the waves
And everything is in its place and the children are asleep
But the water\'s getting deeper, and I can\'t feel my feet
(Chorus)
I am provider, but Providence has been swayed
And by design nothing is ever the same
I thought that time had only one way to go
I learned how to swim, but not to breathe underwater
(Chorus)




I can\'t feel my feet
I can\'t feel my feet

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Glen Phillips's song "It Takes Time" are highly metaphorical and convey the feeling of being overwhelmed by the challenges of life. The opening lines "The water's getting deeper and I can't feel my feet, I keep on bailing buckets, but it flows right back to me" suggests a feeling of being in over one's head, constantly trying to keep up with the rising tide of responsibilities, but unable to make much headway. The reference to children being asleep and everything being put away suggests a nighttime setting, perhaps when the singer can finally relax and reflect, but even then, the problems and challenges remain persistent.


The second verse suggests a sense of disorientation, as "everything looks different, colors all seem strange, and light comes down in shafts, here underneath the waves." This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the feeling of being submerged, or feeling like one is drowning in the world. The image of learning how to swim but not to breathe underwater suggests that while one may have some coping mechanisms in place, they may not be fully equipped to handle the challenges of life.


The chorus "How am I gonna make time? Oh, this is gonna take time" emphasizes the need for patience and perseverance. The song conveys a sense of struggle and uncertainty that many of us can relate to, but ultimately suggests that it takes time to work through challenges, and the process can be slow and difficult.


Line by Line Meaning

The water's getting deeper and I can't feel my feet
I feel overwhelmed and lost as the situation around me becomes more complicated and difficult to navigate.


I keep on bailing buckets, but it flows right back to me
I am trying hard to fix the problem, but it seems to be a never-ending cycle of issues that keep coming back to haunt me.


And everything is put away, the children are asleep
Despite my struggle, I am still able to maintain some order and calmness in my surroundings, especially in regards to the well-being of my children who are sound asleep.


How am I gonna make time
I feel the pressure to succeed and overcome the challenges I am facing, but I am unsure of how I will be able to do so.


Oh, this is gonna take time
I understand that a solution will not come quickly and that I will need patience to weather the storm and overcome the obstacles in my way.


Everything looks different, colors all seem strange
The world around me appears different and unfamiliar as my problem grows larger and more problematic, making it challenging to see things clearly.


And light comes down in shafts, here underneath the waves
Even though I am struggling to keep my head above water, I am able to find some moments of hope and light that give me strength to keep trying.


I am provider, but Providence has been swayed
As the provider for myself or others, I have taken it upon myself to ensure our safety and security, but the circumstances beyond my control have made this difficult to achieve.


And by design nothing is ever the same
I realize that life is unpredictable and that sometimes things don't always go as planned, and it is impossible to control every aspect of our lives.


I thought that time had only one way to go
I had always believed that time was linear and everything would keep moving forward, but now I realize that it can be more complicated and not always in a straight line.


I learned how to swim, but not to breathe underwater
I have the skills and knowledge to navigate challenges, but sometimes I am not prepared for the depth or level of intensity of the current problem.


I can't feel my feet
I am overwhelmed and numb as I face the challenges before me.




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