Time Is a Book
Golden Earring Lyrics


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If I could go back a hundred years or more
Back to the ages I adore
I put myself on a sailing boat
Sailing the seas, carrying my load
Put into ports of every new found land
The crew drops the anchor on my command
Down the boats, and we go ashore
But too bad, I know this can't happen anymore

Time is a book, a book of glory
And in a book of stories
You can't turn the page back anymore

If I could go back a hundred years or more
Back to the ages I adore
I'd become an inventor to discover new things
I'd find out flying with my own wings
I'd find out light and the electric train
And I'd find out how to make it rain
Yes, I should find out all those things




Although sometimes I was wrong
But I'd never find out a gun or a bomb

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Golden Earring's song "Time Is a Book" reflect the desire to travel back in time and experience the past. The first two verses describe the singer's desire to go back a hundred years or more, to the ages he adores, and experience life on a sailing boat. He describes the ports they visit and how they anchor and go ashore. However, the singer laments that this cannot happen anymore.


The chorus emphasizes the idea that time is a book, and once a page is turned, it cannot be turned back. The book of time is filled with stories of glory and struggle, but there is no going back to relive those moments. The following verses describe the singer's desire to become an inventor, discover new things, and create lasting change for the future. He talks about finding out how to fly with his own wings, discovering light and electric trains, and even how to make it rain. However, he also acknowledges the responsibility of using that knowledge wisely and avoiding destructive technology like guns and bombs.


Overall, "Time Is a Book" is a reflective and melancholy song about the fleeting nature of time and the longing for the past. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of what life might have been like in the past and what could be achieved if only we could go back.


Line by Line Meaning

If I could go back a hundred years or more
Expressing a desire to travel back in time


Back to the ages I adore
To return to the era where life was appealing


I put myself on a sailing boat
To sail on a ship and travel by sea


Sailing the seas, carrying my load
Traversing the seas with a burden on my shoulders


Put into ports of every new found land
To dock at every uncharted land


The crew drops the anchor on my command
The anchor is lowered as per my instructions


Down the boats, and we go ashore
To disembark from the boat and move towards land


But too bad, I know this can't happen anymore
Unfortunate reality that such travel to unknown lands is no longer possible


Time is a book, a book of glory
Time is like a book that enshrines glorious events in history


And in a book of stories
These events are like stories in a book


You can't turn the page back anymore
Once those historical events have passed, they cannot be reversed


I'd become an inventor to discover new things
The desire to invent new things


I'd find out flying with my own wings
He wants to discover flying in his own way


I'd find out light and the electric train
He wants to discover electricity and an electric train


And I'd find out how to make it rain
He wants to find out how to create precipitation


Yes, I should find out all those things
He should explore all the things he desires


Although sometimes I was wrong
He recognizes that he may make mistakes during his explorations


But I'd never find out a gun or a bomb
He would never want to discover a weapon that could cause harm




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: GEORGE KOOYMANS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Jos Buysman

Geweldig nummer van de earring met ook een goede tekst!!

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