The Bay Area native has influences that range from Danny Elfman to Björk to Chopin, and as a child, whether he was listening to his father playing Bill Evans tunes on the piano or his mother singing old Cole Porter standards, Jack found himself immersed in sound. His live show springs from this diverse spectrum of styles, and it involves multiple keyboards, guitars, jerry-rigged drum pads, and an occasional accordion, all glued together with thumping beats and in-your-face electronics.
As a member of one of the first generations to grow up with computers on demand, Jack comments, "This is a music revolution, and it's everyone that's making it happen. It's the fans, it's the musicians, it's the blogging sites, it's the programmers who make the blogging sites, it's everyone."
Jack is also one half of Pomplamoose.
Jack is also one half of Scary Pockets.
Jack is also founder and CEO of a small company called Patreon
Tick Tock
Jack Conte Lyrics
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Skin that rots with time and
Time that rots like skin
Til there′s nothing left to live in
But I don't need no cover
Cause you could of had one slumber
But instead you choose
A photo and left me to wander
Time, time, time, time
Find us a goodbye
And you can
Try your best, you try your best
But in the end it′s goodbye
Tick tock
Memory fades but not you
And I die
I still had loved you
I can't seem to escape the ticking
The pulse of everything
It's taking its toll on the heart
Which tackles the pace with incessant beating
Who punched a hole in your brain
You′re leaking me as quick as I came
Must be hard to hear my voice
From behind a picture frame
Time, time, time, time
Finding us a goodbye
And you can
Try your best, you try your best
But in the end, it′s goodbye
Tick tock
Memory fades but not you
And I die
I still had loved you
Silence dear
Don't you fear
Silence
Time, time, time, time
Finding us a goodbye
And you can
Try your best, you try your best
But in the end, it′s goodbye
The lyrics in Jack Conte's song "Tick Tock" are a reflection on the passage of time and the fleeting nature of relationships. The opening lines, "What a combination, skin that rots with time and time that rots like skin," set the tone for the theme of decay and the inevitability of the end of things. The idea that there will come a time when "there's nothing left to live in" is a stark reminder of our own mortality.
The chorus, with its repetition of "Time, time, time, time, finding us a goodbye," is a poignant statement about the role time plays in bringing about endings. The singer addresses someone who has left them but didn't bother to say goodbye, suggesting that they chose a photo over a real goodbye. The ticking sound referred to in the title is the sound of time, a constant reminder of what has been lost.
The song ends on a note of acceptance, with the singer realizing that it's time to let go. The final lines, "And you can try your best, you try your best, but in the end, it's goodbye," suggest that despite our efforts to hold on to things, the passage of time is ultimately beyond our control.
Line by Line Meaning
What a combination
The conjunction of time and aging skin can be a daunting experience.
Skin that rots with time and
Human skin decays progressively as time goes by.
Time that rots like skin
Time can also be seen as a decaying entity similar to skin.
Til there′s nothing left to live in
Eventually, time causes everything to expire until there's nothing substantial left.
But I don't need no cover
The persona does not need a physical covering because they are transparent.
Cause you could of had one slumber
The persona was ignored by their loved one who chose instead to sleep.
But instead you choose
Instead of choosing to be present, the loved one chose a photograph.
A photo and left me to wander
The loved one abandoned the persona to navigate life and relationship unassisted.
Time, time, time, time
Time, as noted in the first verse, is an unrelenting force.
Find us a goodbye
The passage of time inevitably leads to the conclusion of every story or relationship.
And you can
Despite one's best efforts, their control over time is limited.
Try your best, you try your best
People often try to delay the end, but ultimately it will arrive.
But in the end it′s goodbye
As previously noted, time leads to conclusions and eventual goodbyes.
Tick tock
The sound of a ticking clock can be heard as time passes.
Memory fades but not you
The memory of a loved one endures even as time degenerates everything else.
And I die
Even as the persona laments the loss of their relationship, life goes on.
I still had loved you
The persona's love defies the passage of time and the loss of the relationship.
I can't seem to escape the ticking
The sound of the clock reminds the persona of the inevitable march of time.
The pulse of everything
The pulse represents the life force of everything, but also the inevitability of time.
It's taking its toll on the heart
The heart struggles to endure the relentless march of time.
Which tackles the pace with incessant beating
The beating of the heart is a metaphor for the fight against the passage of time.
Who punched a hole in your brain
The persona's brain feels ‘punched’ from the stress of loss and uncontrollable time.
You′re leaking me as quick as I came
The persona feels like their memory is fading as quickly as their loved one left.
Must be hard to hear my voice
It is difficult for the persona to communicate with the loved one now that the relationship is lost.
From behind a picture frame
The persona can only speak from behind a photograph, which is inadequate for connection.
Silence dear
The persona is speaking directly to their loved one, asking for quiet and attention.
Don't you fear
The persona empathizes with the fear and uncertainty that the loved one may be feeling.
Time, time, time, time
As time continues to pass, it becomes the central niggle in the persona's life.
Finding us a goodbye
Once more, time leads to the conclusion of everything, including goodbyes.
And you can
No one is exempt from the passage of time.
Try your best, you try your best
People make countless efforts and attempts to delay, adjust, or reverse the passage of time.
But in the end, it′s goodbye
The inevitable conclusion of everything is goodbye.
Writer(s): Jack Conte
Contributed by Aubrey E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.