Only Time Will Tell
JAMES Etta Lyrics
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When the bottle was empty
And the nights grew cold
In my hour of darkness
In my time of need
You were my angel of mercy
And helped me to believe
When I was lonely
You held me up
When I couldn't fly
There's no words could explain
How I feel inside
And this I tell you
In a world full of anger
In times gone strange
You held me close
You held me close to you
Lay my head on your shoulder
I finally let it all out
It felt good for a moment
Not living in a shadow of doubt
But everybody needs a little something
To pull them through
I gave one for the other
And God knows that the other was you
Now only time will tell
Only time will tell
If our love is scratched in sand
Or if it's etched in stone
Only time will tell
Only time will tell
If our love will stand
Or walk the road alone
My angel of mercy
Pulled me through somehow
I just hope you know
I need you now
You're the one
That touched my very soul
The one who held on tight
God knows you never let go
Now only time will tell
Only time will tell
If our love is scratched in sand
Or if it's etched in stone
Only time will tell
Only time will tell
If our love will stand
Or walk the road alone
Only time will
Only time will
(Can you bring my hands to yours)
Only time will tell
(Can you teach my soul to fly)
Only time will
Only time will
(Can you save me)
Only time will tell
Angel of mercy
It's time we closed the door
Put out the lights
And burn the fire
Burn the fire inside
Angel of mercy
You pulled me through
And this I tell to you
Lord know I'd tell it to you
The song "Only Time Will Tell" by Etta James is a beautiful ballad about finding comfort and love during hard times. The lyrics describe the singer's search for someone to offer them solace when they were feeling lost and alone. The bottle was empty and the nights were cold, but the singer found an angel of mercy in their time of need. This person touched their soul and helped the singer believe that things could get better. They held the singer up when they couldn't fly and gave them the strength to face life's struggles.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Only time will tell" several times, suggesting that the singer is unsure whether their love will last. They wonder whether their relationship is "scratched in sand" or "etched in stone." Even though this uncertainty exists, the singer is grateful for the comfort that their partner has provided. They are hopeful that their love will stand the test of time.
One interesting interpretation of the lyrics is that they may be autobiographical. Etta James had a difficult life, struggling with drug addiction and abusive relationships. It's possible that this song is about someone who played a role in helping her overcome these challenges. Regardless of the specific inspiration, the song's poignant message resonates with many listeners who have experienced their own struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
I just needed someone, somebody to hold
I was feeling lonely and needed someone to be there for me
When the bottle was empty
When I had no more alcohol left and felt empty inside
And the nights grew cold
And when the darkness of the night made me feel even more alone
In my hour of darkness
In the toughest moments of my life, when I felt like I couldn't go on
In my time of need
During the times in my life when I needed someone the most
You were my angel of mercy
You were the one who came to my rescue and helped me
And helped me to believe
And made me believe in myself again
You touched my soul
You made me feel something deep within me that I had never felt before
When I was lonely
When I felt the most alone and isolated
You held me up
You supported me and didn't let me fall down
When I couldn't fly
When I was feeling trapped and couldn't move forward in life
There's no words could explain
It's hard to describe in words how much you meant to me
How I feel inside
How much you touched me emotionally and made me feel alive again
And this I tell you
And I want to make sure you know this
In a world full of anger
In a world where there is so much anger and hostility
In times gone strange
In unpredictable and chaotic times in life
You held me close
You kept me feeling safe and secure
You held me close to you
You brought me in close to your heart and didn't let me go
Lay my head on your shoulder
Resting my head on your shoulder gave me a sense of comfort
I finally let it all out
I was finally able to release all my pent-up emotions and pain
It felt good for a moment
Even if it was only temporary, it felt good to let all my feelings out
Not living in a shadow of doubt
I was able to move forward without questioning myself and my worth
But everybody needs a little something
Everyone needs someone or something to help them through tough times
To pull them through
To help them overcome and move forward
I gave one for the other
I exchanged one thing for another
And God know that the other was you
And I know that it was you who helped me the most
Now only time will tell
We will have to wait and see what happens
If our love is scratched in sand
If our love is easily erasable like writing in sand
Or if it's etched in stone
Or if it is permanent and strong, like carving in stone
If our love will stand
If our love is strong enough to overcome all obstacles
Or walk the road alone
Or if we will have to walk our separate paths in life
My angel of mercy
You were the one who saved me
Pulled me through somehow
You helped me overcome and get through everything
I just hope you know
I want you to know how much you mean to me
I need you now
I still need you in my life
You're the one
You are the only one for me
That touched my very soul
You touched me deeply and emotionally
The one who held on tight
You never let me go and held on tight
God knows you never let go
I know that you always held on and supported me
Angel of mercy
You were the one who showed me kindness and love
It's time we closed the door
It's time for us to move on from the past
Put out the lights
Let go of the old and start fresh
And burn the fire
Destroy anything left that could hurt us
Burn the fire inside
Let go of any intense emotions and move forward
Only time will
We have to be patient and wait to see
Only time will tell
Only the future will reveal the truth
(Can you bring my hands to yours)
Can we still be close and connected?
(Can you teach my soul to fly)
Can you help me continue to grow and be free?
(Can you save me)
Can you keep me from falling down again?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MAURICE MCALISTER, TERRY VAIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind