Child In Time
Ian Gillan Lyrics


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Sweet child in time
You'll see the line
The line that's drawn between
Good and bad

See the blind man
Shooting at the world
Bullets flying
Ohh taking toll

If you've been bad
Oh Lord I bet you have
And you've not been hit
Oh by flying lead

You'd better close your eyes
Ooohhhh bow your head
Wait for the ricochet

Oooooo ooooooo ooooooo
Oooooo ooooooo ooooooo
Ooo, ooo ooo
Ooo ooo ooo

Oooooo ooooooo ooooooo
Oooooo ooooooo ooooooo
Ooo, ooo ooo
Ooo ooo ooo

Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Aahh, aahh aahh
Aah I wanna hear you sing

Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Aahh, aahh aahh
Aaahhhh

Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Aahh, aahh aahh

Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Aahh, aahh aahh

Sweet child in time
You'll see the line
The line that's drawn between
Good and bad

See the blind man
Shooting at the world
Bullets flying
Mmmm taking toll

If you've been bad
Lord I bet you have
And you've not been hit
Oh by flying lead

You'd better close your eyes
Ooohhhhhhh bow your head
Wait for the ricochet

Oooooo ooooooo ooooooo
Oooooo ooooooo ooooooo
Ooo, ooo ooo
Ooo ooo ooo

Oooooo ooooooo ooooooo
Oooooo ooooooo ooooooo
Ooo, ooo ooo
Ooo ooo ooo

Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Aahh, aahh aahh
Aah I gotta hear you sing

Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Aahh, aahh aahh
Aah

Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Aahh, aahh aahh
Aah

Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Aahh, aahh aahh

Oh..God oh no..oh God no..oh..ah..no ah




AAh..oh..
Aawaah..ohh

Overall Meaning

Ian Gillan's song "Child In Time" is a powerful and haunting piece that reflects on the injustice and violence we find in the world. In the song, Gillan addresses a "sweet child in time" who will one day encounter the line drawn between good and bad, and witness the blind man shooting at the world, causing bullets to fly and take a toll on innocent lives. The lyrics suggest that even the innocent are not safe in this world, and those who have been bad will be hit by the flying lead.


Gillan warns that those who have been bad, and have not yet been hit by flying lead, should close their eyes, and bow their heads, waiting for the ricochet. This suggests that the consequences of one's actions will eventually catch up with them, whether in this life or the next. The repetition of the phrase "Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh" towards the end of the song, coupled with the desperate cries of "Oh..God oh no..oh God no..oh..ah..no ah" and "AAh..oh..Aawaah..ohh" reflect the pain, fear and desperation that arise in the face of senseless violence.


Line by Line Meaning

Sweet child in time
The singer is addressing a young person who has yet to experience the harsh realities of the world.


You'll see the line
The young person will soon understand the difference between good and bad.


The line that's drawn between
The line represents the boundaries and morality that separates right from wrong.


Good and bad
The dichotomy of morality that guides our actions.


See the blind man
Metaphorically refers to someone who is ignorant of the consequences of their actions and is shooting at the world with abandon.


Shooting at the world
Acting recklessly and with disregard for others.


Bullets flying
The actions of the blind man are having dangerous consequences.


Ohh taking toll
The consequences of the blind man's actions are severe and cannot be ignored.


If you've been bad
The singer acknowledges that not everyone is perfect and people have made mistakes.


Oh Lord I bet you have
The singer emphasizes that making mistakes is part of the human experience and the young person is not alone in their shortcomings.


And you've not been hit
The young person has not experienced the consequences of their actions and should be cautious to avoid them in the future.


You'd better close your eyes
The singer warns the young person to shield themselves from the dangers that their actions may bring.


Ooohhhh bow your head
The young person should show humility and respect for the rules and norms imposed by society, as a way of avoiding negative consequences.


Wait for the ricochet
Be patient and wait for the consequences of your actions to affect others, because they will come back to affect the originator in some way.


Oooooo ooooooo ooooooo
Vocalization of emotion.


Aaaahh aaaahh aaaahh
Vocalization of emotion.


Aah I wanna hear you sing
The singer wants the young person to join in and learn from experience, warning of the dangers of recklessness and the importance of positive values.


Oh..God oh no..oh God no..oh..ah..no ah
Vocalization of emotion.


AAh..oh..
Vocalization of emotion.


Aawaah..ohh
Vocalization of emotion.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ian Gillan, Ian Paice, Jon Lord, Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@ghost_z17_08

Ian (Gillan’s) unmistakable screaming and voice,

Ritchie’s unmistakable guitar playing.

Ian (Paice’s) unmistakable drumming

Jon’s unmistakable piano/keyboard skills

And Roger’s unmistakable bass playing


All perfection 🤙



@dumpygoodness4086

@@jerm724 yeah, everyone forgets HOW FAST music was evolving at that time. (B/c it doesn't evolve AT ALL any more!)

These people had NEVER EVER heard anything like this! 2 years before they were all singing "PENNY LANE"! A year before this, they were all singing "HEY JUDE"!

Now this EXPLOSIVE HEAVY NOISE ROCK!?!?!

WHAT THE......?

Hm: just the LEAP from 1966 to 1969 may have seen more advancements than the rest of music history combined!



@robertwenzel5078

1970, ich war 13,
der erste Ausbruch,
die erste Suche.
Es kamen noch viele mehr,
Led Zeppelin,
Black Sabbat,
AC/DC,
und mehr.
Aber immer nur an
erster Stelle,
Deep Purpel, bis heute.
Danke,
John Lord,
Richie Blackmore,
Ian Gillan,
Roger Glover,
Ian Paice.
Danke.
Für mich ward
ihr die Ersten,
die Besten,
bis heute, und für immer.



All comments from YouTube:

@come_to_mama

2024 still listening?❤

@user-ve8wz7ox1p

Мне 65... И я слушаю.

@user-ve8wz7ox1p

Я Русская... !!! Музыка .. вне политики...

@user-ve8wz7ox1p

Я горжусь своей страной, но... музыку, буду слушать, только КАЧЕСТВЕННУЮ..!

@omeliunpb1987

Mee to

@Samsung-sm7fo

Такую музыку невозможно не слушать. Тем кто понимает она вечная.

434 More Replies...

@michelguevara151

no digital fuckery, no autotune, no fake talent, pure artistry

@gordonillin1822

Old school always the greatest☝👍☝👍

@Jw-un8oh

well technically the keyboard is auto tuned

@r-runyah4666

We called pure skill..

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