Kevin Neil Hearn (born 3 July 1969, in Grimsby, Ontario) plays keyboards an… Read Full Bio ↴Kevin Neil Hearn (born 3 July 1969, in Grimsby, Ontario) plays keyboards and other instruments for Barenaked Ladies and also has his own band, Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle. Hearn is (somewhat ironically now) referred to as the "new guy" in Barenaked Ladies. He joined in 1995 to replace departed keyboardist Andy Creeggan, who decided to leave the band to pursue his study music. He didn't own any of the band's albums and had to learn all of the band's songs in a matter of weeks.

Time Machine
Kevin Hearn Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Walking through the old school hall
See the photos on the wall
I could never really tell how to get A’s straight
But I believe in love at first sight and I just can’t wait

All I need
All I need is a time
And a place

And a time machine

Cooling off wrapped in foil
What a blessing to be unspoiled
You’re the smoky wish above the birthday cake
Destination on a trip I’d like to take

All I need
All I need is a time
And a place
And a time machine

Trying to make a lifetime stretch
Holding in that golden breath
You remember watching dolphins from the beach
What if all the happy memories were in reach

All I need
All I need is a time
And a place
And a time machine

All I need
All I need is a time

And a place
And a time machine

Overall Meaning

The song "Time Machine" by Kevin Hearn is a wistful reflection on the past and a yearning for the ability to go back and retrieve cherished memories. Through the lyrics, Hearn describes his surroundings, walking through an old school hall and seeing photos on the wall, which evoke memories of his own experiences struggling to achieve academic success. However, he believes in love at first sight and longs for the ability to relive moments of infatuation from his past. He sings about the happiness of being young and unspoiled, being surrounded by friends and family, and watching dolphins from the beach. Ultimately, he longs for a time machine that would give him the power to revisit these moments, to experience the happiness and warmth associated with his memories once again.

The song is a gentle reminder to cherish the good times and to find ways to keep those memories alive. It also reflects on the often-unfulfilled desire to revisit cherished moments from the past. The use of a "time machine" as a device in the lyrics shows that Hearn is aware of the impossibility of doing so, but the power and pull of those memories cannot be ignored.

Line by Line Meaning

Walking through the old school hall
Reflecting on past memories in a nostalgic setting

See the photos on the wall
Taking in visual reminders of past experiences

I could never really tell how to get A’s straight
Struggling in academic pursuits

But I believe in love at first sight and I just can’t wait
Optimistically looking forward to future possibilities and experiences

All I need All I need is a time And a place And a time machine
Yearning for a means to revisit cherished moments in life

Cooling off wrapped in foil
Recalling a specific, sensory experience

What a blessing to be unspoiled
Appreciating the purity and innocence of past memories

You’re the smoky wish above the birthday cake
Addressing a specific person as a symbol of hopeful desire

Destination on a trip I’d like to take
Expressing a desire to revisit a specific location or experience

Trying to make a lifetime stretch
Reflecting on the fleeting nature of time and trying to hold onto moments

Holding in that golden breath
Metaphorically holding onto a fleeting experience

You remember watching dolphins from the beach
Recalling a specific past experience

What if all the happy memories were in reach
Contemplating the possibility of revisiting all positive memories

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIC HERMAN ENDRES, ROSEANN COLTON ENDRES, KEN NESBITT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS