A revised, two-act version of the show was devised by Benetto and director Neil Armfield for performance by Company B in 2006, and has subsequently had successful seasons across Australia. Company B also made a full soundtrack recording of the show.
it's time
Keating! Lyrics
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I've made a habit of collecting clocks
Sleek antiques with ticks and tocks
Didn't you ever wonder why?
I hear the seconds as a perfect space
Pushed together in relentless pace
The beat of a moment passing by
And every face is like the moon to me
Pulled in the orbit of its hands
My tide is high and my chance is nigh
I've got to take it and you know why
Somewhere inside you, there's a man that understands
It's time!
Time, the revelator, destroyer and creator, no-one gets to wait on time!
Time to start afresh, we know we're only flesh and bones and so it's precious time!
It's time!
The Opposition takes a different tack
They wind it down and they turn it back
They don't like to hear that sound
But time is slipping past them every day
Just like the picture of Dorian Gray
And it's they who come unwound
Keating and Bob Hawke:
For evolution needs time to move
Just like a drummer beats time to grove
And it can never stand still
Keating:
The revolution of a second hand
Is the solution that I must demand
A change is gonna come now, you know it always will...
Keating and Hawke:
In time!
Keating:
Time is of the essence, I know that it's unpleasant but no time like the present time!
Time won't be denied and though you try to hide you know it's on my side...
Hawke:
It's time!
Time to make a break, it's time for you to take it, whip and out and shake it,
Keating and Hawke:
Time!
Keating:
Time and time again, you might have dug the venue, now you're on the menu, time!
It's time!
The song "It's Time" by Keating is a commentary on the importance of time and seizing opportunities while they exist. The lyrics evoke a sense of urgency and determination, conveyed through the repeated refrain of "It's time!" The singer has a fascination with clocks and their precise ticking, seeing in them an analogy for the relentless march of time. He believes that every moment is significant and filled with potential, as represented by the moon-like faces he observes. The opposition, by contrast, is characterized as resisting change and preferring to turn back the clock. The singer argues that progress requires forward momentum, likening it to the beat of a drummer. Ultimately, the message is one of optimism and the need for decisive action when faced with a fleeting opportunity.
Line by Line Meaning
I've made a habit of collecting clocks
I have a habit of collecting clocks, sleek antiques that tick and tock
Didn't you ever wonder why?
Have you ever wondered why I collect these clocks?
I hear the seconds as a perfect space
I hear seconds as a perfectly spaced beat of a moment passing by non-stop
Pushed together in relentless pace
The tempo of seconds is relentless and always pushing forward without breaking
The beat of a moment passing by
The constant ticking of the seconds is representative of moments constantly passing by
And every face is like the moon to me
I view every face I see as a full moon bursting with possibilities
Full of hope and opportunity
Every face is filled with inspiration and the possibility of what they could become
Pulled in the orbit of its hands
People are pulled in by the hands of time just like the way planets are pulled towards the sun via gravity
My tide is high and my chance is nigh
I am full of confidence and my opportunity is close at hand
I've got to take it and you know why
I have to take this opportunity because I won't get it again
Somewhere inside you, there's a man that understands
You inherently know that time moves forward and opportunities must be seized in order to progress in life
It's time!
It is time to take action
Time, the revelator, destroyer and creator, no-one gets to wait on time!
Time is a force that reveals, destroys, and creates, and no one has the luxury of waiting for time to pass them by
Time to start afresh, we know we're only flesh and bones and so it's precious time!
It is time to start over, we are only human and our time on this earth is valuable
It's time!
It is time to seize opportunities and start fresh
The Opposition takes a different tack
The opposing party has a different approach
They wind it down and they turn it back
They slow things down and move backwards
They don't like to hear that sound
They do not like the sound of time moving forward
But time is slipping past them every day
Time is moving forward every day and they are unable to stop it
Just like the picture of Dorian Gray
Just like the portrait of Dorian Gray that aged instead of him, time moves forward for everyone regardless of their desire to stop it
And it's they who come unwound
Their inability to embrace and act upon time causes them to come undone
For evolution needs time to move
Evolution requires time to progress
Just like a drummer beats time to grove
Like a drummer, time moves forward in a consistent beat or tempo
And it can never stand still
Time never stops, it always moves forward
The revolution of a second hand
The movement of the second hand
Is the solution that I must demand
I demand swift action and change
A change is gonna come now, you know it always will...
Change is inevitable and it will happen soon
In time!
Eventually, change will occur
Time is of the essence, I know that it's unpleasant but no time like the present time!
Time is crucial, and the present is the best time to take action even when it is uncomfortable
Time won't be denied and though you try to hide you know it's on my side...
Time cannot be stopped or hidden from, and I am using it to my advantage
Time to make a break, it's time for you to take it, whip and out and shake it,
It is time to take quick action, seize the moment and make a change
Time and time again, you might have dug the venue, now you're on the menu, time!
Over time, you may have felt comfortable and secure in your current situation, but now it is time to take action because the opportunity is available
It's time!
It is time to take swift action
Contributed by Leah P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.