Time
Hootie & The Blowfish Lyrics

Time why you punish me
The singer questions why time punishes them.

Like a wave bashing into the shore
Time's punishing quality is likened to a relentless wave.

You wash away my dreams
Time has the ability to erode and wash away our aspirations.

Time why you walk away
The artist wonders why time seems to abandon them.

Like a friend with somewhere to go
Time's departure is likened to that of a friend's who has better things to do.

You left me crying
Time's absence and indifference causes the singer pain.

Can you teach me 'bout tomorrow
The singer requests guidance and insight about the future from time.

And all the pain and sorrow running free
The artist acknowledges the inevitable presence of hardship and tragedy in life.

'Cause tomorrow's just another day
The artist views tomorrow as just another rotation of cyclical time.

And I don't believe in time
Despite time's omnipresent nature, the artist refuses to believe in its power or influence.

Time I don't understand
The singer admits their lack of comprehension of time.

Children killing in the street
The artist references a violent and unjust reality of the present time.

Dying for the color of red
The singer comments on the irrationality and senselessness of the reasons behind violence.

Time there red and blue
The singer ties the notion of time to the concept of opposing sides and divisions.

Wash them in the ocean, make them clean
The singer suggests a purification process for the affected parties.

Maybe their mother won't cry tonight
The artist offers the hope that the loss of life can be prevented in the future.

Time is wasting time is walking
The artist describes time as a fleeting and constantly moving entity.

You ain't no friend of mine
The singer's frustration with time's lack of concern for them is expressed.

I don't know where I'm goin'
The singer expresses uncertainty about their path and future.

I think I'm out of my mind
The artist acknowledges their own feelings of confusion and instability.

Thinking about time
The artist is preoccupied with thoughts about the nature and effects of time.

And if I die tomorrow
The artist contemplates the thought of their own mortality.

Just lay me down in sleep
The singer expresses a desire for a peaceful passing.

Time you left me standing there
The artist again references time's ability to abandon or neglect them.

Like a tree growing all alone
The singer describes their own solitude and isolation.

The wind just stripped me bare
The singer compares themselves to a tree whose natural protection has been removed by time's destruction.

Time the past has come and gone
The singer recognizes the fleeting nature of the past and the impossibility of reclaiming it through time.

The future's far away
The artist emphasizes the vast distance between the present time and an unknown future.

And now only lasts for one second, one second
The artist emphasizes the fleeting nature of the present, which disappears in the blink of an eye.

Time without courage
The singer describes a version of time that is lacking bravery or determination.

And time without fear
The singer describes a version of time that is not shaped by apprehension or anxiety.

Is just wasted, wasted
The artist suggests that time without emotional depth or intensity is pointless and unfulfilling.

Wasted time
The song's title is repeated, serving as a final commentary on the impact of time.