Time Machine
Jin Lyrics

What if you knew then, what you know now?
Have you ever thought about how different your life could be if you possessed the knowledge you have now, years ago?

Or what if, you know now, what you wish you knew then?
Have you ever thought about how much utility you could have had in the past had you been equipped with the knowledge you have now?

That's what I ask you.
I urge you to ponder on these thoughts.

A wise man once told me "life is what you make it"
Someone called me wise by telling me once that the way your life turns out is entirely based on your/one's own actions.

Bare witness to the lies, simply cuz the truth is naked
Observe the falsehood, for truth (reality) always stands out.

My thoughts are sacred, yet I share 'em wit the masses
Although my personal opinions are important to me, I’m willing to share them with the general public.

I intend to be around, when the barrier collapses
I will stay put and wait until the current restrictions disappear.

It's dust to dust 'n ashes to ashes
We are all mortal and will return to the dust and ashes from which we were created.

Those who come up quick, tend to be fallin' the fastest
People who attain success too quickly tend to lose it the quickest.

On the cash route, but for the paper they get lost
People become so obsessed with money that they forget their real priorities.

Not I, I'd rather let nature take its course
Personally, I would rather let events unfold naturally than try to force things.

The reality is harsh, but it's gotta be accepted
The truth can be unpleasant, but it must be accepted to move forward.

Your fate has been determined, outcome is pre-selected
Our destiny has already been decided, and the end result is predetermined.

No telling when your breath's stoppin', n' death's knockin'
We have no control over when we take our last breath, and death is inevitable.

To enjoy every second is your best option
The most optimal way to live life is to appreciate each and every moment.

Treat, every first time like if it's your last
Enjoy every new experience as if it were your last opportunity.

I wish I could somehow go 'n revisit the past
If only I could travel back in time and correct some of my past errors.

Correct any mistakes, maybe right a few wrongs
To correct past errors with the hope of balancing out a few bad deeds performed in the past.

I'd hit the studio, just to write a few songs
I would make the best use of my time in the past by composing some quality music.

[Chorus:]
The following lyrics form the chorus of the song.

If I had a time machine, I'd go back in a flash
I'd love to time travel in the blink of an eye.

Tell myself "you ain't nothing but a thing of the past" (so let's go)
I would warn my past self to focus on the present and persuade him to let go of the emotional burdens of years gone by.

Ain't got time for none of y'all to borrow (and why not?)
I'm not inclined to lend anything to anyone, mainly because I'm short on time.

Cuz today is yesterday's tomorrow
Today is the resulting state of yesterday's events.

For the sake of argument let's say I did find a way
Let's assume I've discovered a method of time travel.

And was capable of goin' back to any time or day
What if I had the ability to travel back to any date in the past?

Like, September 11th, then I'd have a chance to
For instance, imagine revisiting September 11th to make a difference in the obvious tragedy that occurred.

Beg and plead until every last flight was cancelled
I would implore the relevant authorities to halt every commercial flight on this day.

Go further back, to clear more of the smoke
I would go back even further to eliminate the obscurity and reveal the truth of the past.

Warn him, to keep a close eye on the Florida votes
I would advise someone to keep a watchful eye on the vote counting and ensure that everything is done ethically.

I tell Martin 'n Malcom how I respect they passion
If I could converse with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr, I would express my appreciation for their fire and dedication to their respective causes.

To seek change and justice, watch for the assassins
I would suggest keeping an eye on anyone suspected of assassination attempts.

And, meetin' Bruce, would be history itself
Meeting Bruce Lee would be unforgettable.

Maybe study martial arts with Mr. Lee himself
I would explore the possibility of training under Mr. Lee's guidance if I met him.

I'd tell Biggie "to run the light don't stop son"
If I had the chance, I would ask Notorious B.I.G (Biggie) to be extra cautious and not to stop his car at traffic signals.

And Pac "somethin' ain't right, don't ride shotgun"
I would caution Tupac Shakur (Pac) not to sit in the front passenger seat, as I sense that something’s amiss.

The good die young, we all know but how come?
Why is it that good people have a tendency to die young? This is a common observation.

And since we know, why we can't change the outcome?
Given that we are aware of these patterns, is it not possible to modify them?

I tried to make a difference but reality remains
I have made efforts to bring about change, but the harsh reality persists.

That the script's been written so my efforts are in vain
I can't change what's destined to happen, so my attempts have been pointless and in vain.

[Chorus:]
The following lyrics form the chorus of the song.

What about my future, and the road that lies ahead?
What is to come of my future, and what path will it take?

Should I take a glimpse, or be surprised instead?
Should I attempt to look ahead, or would it be beneficial to remain in the dark?

Think I'll sneak a peak, I see a wall full of plaques
Perhaps I'll take a peek and envision myself surrounded by accolades on a wall.

No more gimmicks, critics say I'm all skills in fact
I will be highly praised for my exceptional talents, and my innovations will no longer be considered just for show.

Hate to say I told you so, but honestly speakin'
I am reluctant to say that I have been proven right, but in reality, it is a matter of fact.

Finally got the respect I'm constantly seekin'
I have finally received the recognition that I've always desired.

After the acclaim, figure I'd settle down
After obtaining the desired recognition, I would look to settle down.

One wife, two kids, I'm out the ghetto now
I would move on from the ghetto and build a happy family with a spouse and children.

I'm lyin' to myself, my life's a complete waste
To be honest, I've been deceiving myself by thinking my life has had any worth or purpose.

A bitter sweet sorrow, that's just how defeat tastes
Loss and failure have left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth.

A has been, forgotten, I'm yesterday's news
I'm a has-been, long forgotten and a thing of the past.

No longer relevant, Jin was expected to lose
I am no longer relevant, and everyone expected me to experience failure.

Can't see that as my destiny so I'm lookin' past
As I cannot come to terms with it as my fate, I am looking forward instead of dwelling on the past.

My twenty-twenty vision blurred through the lookin' glass
Although I have perfect vision, my introspective insight has been narrowed due to my relentless ambition.

At last, I choose to walk a path of my own
Finally, I've decided to follow my own unique path despite my difficult circumstances.

I've come this far but the other half is unknown
I've come a fair way but am uncertain of what lies ahead.

[Chorus:]
The following lyrics form the chorus of the song.