Joan Armatrading MBE (born Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading in Basseterre, Sa… Read Full Bio ↴Joan Armatrading MBE (born Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading in Basseterre, Saint Kitts on 9 December 1950) and brought up in Birmingham, England, is a British singer, songwriter, and guitarist.

Armatrading has mixed eclectic musical styles over decades of recording and performing. She has had several British hit singles, the biggest of which were "Love & Affection", "Me Myself I", and "Drop the Pilot". Her music is generally pop, with forays into rock, folk, jazz, and even reggae. Her popularity is primarily as an album artist.

She gained a new audience following her writing and performing "The Flight of the Wild Geese", which was used during the opening and end titles for the 1978 film The Wild Geese.

Armatrading first performed in a concert at Birmingham University for her brother at the age of about 16 (circa 1966). She only knew her own songs, but her brother asked her to perform something that would be familiar to the audience; she chose "The Sound of Silence".[9] She then performed her own songs around the local area with a friend from school, and played bass and rhythm guitar at local clubs.

Killing Time
Joan Armatrading Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When you're pleasure seeking
I'm left killing time

It's a homicide
A ritual
Don't treat a human like that

You're very smart

You ignite my flame
After all is said and done
Baby you're the only one

I don't get jealous
But when you say you love me
I only half believe
But baby
I could never leave

Right now is all I want
Right here
Here is where you belong
With me
As long as you stay
With me
You'll see
I'm real good company

Sleight of hand
The way you play your tricks

You cheat on me
All the time
But I turn my back
Cos we had
Some
Good times

Here is where you belong
With me
As long as you stay
With me

You'll see
I'm real good company

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Joan Armatrading's song Killing Time is all about the emotional turmoil arising from a complicated relationship. The lyrics "When you're pleasure seeking, I'm left killing time" reveal how the singer feels left behind while their significant other seeks pleasure elsewhere. In fact, the choice of words like "homicide" and "ritual" suggest that the singer feels like they are being killed slowly while their partner engages in destructive behavior. The plea "don't treat a human like that" sounds like the crowd to the singer's partner to recognize the impact of their actions on the singer's emotions.

The chorus of the song changes the mood somewhat when the singer acknowledges the power that their partner wields, stating that they are smart and ignite the singer's flame. However, the uncertainty creeps in with the line "when you say you love me, I only half believe." Despite this, the singer reassures their lover that they could never leave and that the present moment is all that matters. The song's final lines suggest that despite the turmoil, the singer sees themselves as a good companion and wants their partner to stay with them.

Overall, the lyrics of Killing Time are an emotional rollercoaster, with the singer struggling to come to terms with their partner's behavior while also professing their love and devotion. The melody of the song reinforces the theme with its slow, melancholy sound.

Line by Line Meaning

When you're pleasure seeking
When you're out having fun and enjoying life,

I'm left killing time
I'm left with nothing to do or no one to see, just waiting around for you

It's a homicide
This feeling of boredom and loneliness is killing me

A ritual
It's something that happens often and is part of our relationship

Don't treat a human like that
Don't leave me alone and bored for your own pleasure, consider my feelings too

You're very smart
You have a way of getting what you want

You ignite my flame
You bring excitement and passion to my life

After all is said and done
Despite everything that has happened between us

Baby you're the only one
I still love and need you in my life

I don't get jealous
I don't feel threatened by other people or things in your life

But when you say you love me
But when you express your feelings towards me