I Didn't Know What Time It Was
Julie London Lyrics


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I didn't know what time it was
Then I met you
Oh, what a lovely time it was
How sublime it was too!

I didn't know what day it was
Then you held my hand
Warm like the month of May it was
And I'll say it was grand

Grand to be alive, to be young
To be mad, to be yours alone
Grand to see your face, feel your touch
Hear your voice say I'm all your own

I didn't know what year it was
Life was no prize
I wanted love and here it was
Shining out of your eyes

Once I was old, twenty years or so
Rather well preserved, the wrinkles didn't show
Once I was old, but not too old for fun
I used to hunt for little girls up my imaginary gun
But now I ain't for only one

I'm wise and I know what time it is now





I'm wise and I know what time it is now
I'm so wise and I know what time it is now

Overall Meaning

In "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," Julie London sings about a newfound sense of love and happiness that came into her life unexpectedly. Throughout the song, London reflects on how lost and directionless she felt before meeting the person who changed everything for her. The opening lines, "I didn't know what time it was / Then I met you," suggest that something as basic as keeping track of time was unimportant to her before love entered the picture.


London goes on to describe the way love changed her life, using words like "sublime" and "grand" to emphasize just how wonderful it was. She feels grateful to be alive and young, and revels in the feeling of being someone's whole world, as we hear in the lines, "Grand to see your face, feel your touch / Hear your voice say I'm all your own." The song's final lines, "I'm so wise and I know what time it is now," suggest that London feels like she has finally found her place in the world and has a newfound sense of clarity about her life.


One interesting aspect of this song is the way that London uses language to create a sense of warmth and comfort. She describes love as being "warm like the month of May" and sings about feeling "grand" and "sublime" in her lover's arms. This imagery gives the song a feeling of hope and positivity, even as London reflects on darker times from her past.


Another fascinating aspect of "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" is the way that it captures a specific moment in time. The song was first released in 1959, and the lyrics contain references to the era in which it was written. For example, when London sings about hunting for "little girls" with her imaginary gun, it's clear that she is referring to a time when society's views on relationships and sexuality were quite different from what they are today.


Line by Line Meaning

I didn't know what time it was
I was unaware of the time


Then I met you
But after I met you


Oh, what a lovely time it was
I experienced a wonderful time


How sublime it was too!
It was perfect in every way!


I didn't know what day it was
I had no idea which day it was


Then you held my hand
But as soon as you held my hand


Warm like the month of May it was
It felt pleasant and comforting


And I'll say it was grand
It was splendid and wonderful


Grand to be alive, to be young
Amazing to be alive and young


To be mad, to be yours alone
To be passionately yours only


Grand to see your face, feel your touch
Blissful to see your face and feel your touch


Hear your voice say I'm all your own
Hearing you say that I belong to you


I didn't know what year it was
I was clueless about the year


Life was no prize
Life was unexciting


I wanted love and here it was
I was searching for love and I found it in you


Shining out of your eyes
I saw it in your eyes


Once I was old, twenty years or so
I used to consider myself old, only twenty or so


Rather well preserved, the wrinkles didn't show
I had preserved my looks and the wrinkles were not evident


Once I was old, but not too old for fun
I was old but not so much that I couldn't have fun


I used to hunt for little girls up my imaginary gun
I used to go around looking for younger women to seduce


But now I ain't for only one
But now I am committed to only one person


I'm wise and I know what time it is now
I'm knowledgeable and aware of what's happening now


I'm so wise and I know what time it is now
I've gained a lot of wisdom and I know what's happening now


I'm wise and I know what time it is now
I've gained a lot of wisdom and I know what's happening now




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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