Only Time
Mary McDowell Lyrics


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Who can say where the road goes?
Where the day flows?
Only time
And who can say if your love grows
As your heart chose?
Only time

Who can say why your heart sighs
As your love flies?
Only time
And who can say why your heart cries
When your love lies?
Only time

Who can say when the roads meet
That love might be in your heart?
And who can say when the day sleeps
If the night keeps all your heart,
Night keeps all your heart?

Who can say if your love grows
As your heart chose?
Only time
And who can say where the road goes?
Where the day flows?
Only time





Who knows? Only time

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Mary McDowell's song Only Time address the uncertainty that comes with love and life's journeys. The song starts off with the question "Who can say where the road goes?" and answers with "Only time." This sets the tone for the rest of the song, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of life. The second stanza continues with the same theme, asking "Who can say if your love grows as your heart chose?" and again answering "Only time." This highlights the mystery of love, and how it can grow or falter in unexpected ways.


The following stanza focuses on heartache, asking "And who can say why your heart cries when your love lies?" The answer, as before, is "Only time." This suggests that time is necessary to heal from heartbreak and move forward. The next stanza offers a glimmer of hope, wondering if love might be found when the roads meet. But the uncertainty persists, with the line "That love might be in your heart?"


The final stanza repeats the questions from the beginning of the song, "Who can say if your love grows as your heart chose? / And who can say where the road goes? Where the day flows?" The final line, "Who knows? Only time," reinforces the idea that although we might long for certainty in life and love, the only thing that is certain is the passage of time.


Overall, Mary McDowell's Only Time is a poignant and introspective song that speaks to the deep mysteries of life and love. The lyrics acknowledge that there are no easy answers to the questions we have, but that time can offer some solace and perspective.


Line by Line Meaning

Who can say where the road goes?
Who can predict where our journey in life will take us?


Where the day flows?
Where will each and every day lead us, and what will we experience?


Only time
Only the passage of time can reveal what lies ahead for us.


And who can say if your love grows
It is impossible to tell if our love for another person will flourish and grow or diminish over time.


As your heart chose?
Our feelings towards someone are unique and personal to each of us, and we cannot choose who we will fall in love with.


Only time
Time will determine the fate of our love relationships.


Who can say why your heart sighs
The causes of our deep emotional feelings, such as sighs from the heart, can be a mystery.


As your love flies?
Our love for someone can evoke joy and upliftment, but it can also cause sadness and pain.


Who can say why your heart cries
We may not always understand why we feel intense sorrow or heartbreak when things go wrong in love.


When your love lies?
Dishonesty and betrayal can create a deeply traumatic experience and cause feelings of betrayal in relationships.


Only time
It will take some time to heal from the pain inflicted in such situations.


Who can say when the roads meet
Our lives are unpredictable, and it is impossible to tell when we may encounter someone special and experience a connection.


That love might be in your heart?
When two people cross paths and feel a connection, it can be hard to tell whether romantic feelings will develop.


And who can say when the day sleeps
The quiet moments at the end of the day hold their own set of mysteries and unknowns.


If the night keeps all your heart,
Emotions can simmer in ways we may not even recognize or understand, and they can slowly build over time.


Night keeps all your heart?
The darkness of night can provide a cloak for deep feelings and emotions we aren't fully conscious of.


Who can say if your love grows
The forces that drive relationships are beyond rational explanation, and it can be hard to tell how deep our love for another goes.


As your heart chose?
Love is not something we can control or predict - rather, it chooses us.


Only time
Only as time passes do we really understand and know the depth of our emotions and love.


And who can say where the road goes?
Our journey in life is a mystery, and it is impossible to know all the twists and turns that await us.


Where the day flows?
Day after day, we follow our own unique paths without knowing the full destination or outcome.


Only time
Whatever experiences we accrue, it is only through the passage of time that we can gain a full understanding of life's complexities.


Who knows? Only time
The answers to life's biggest questions are revealed over the course of time. And only time holds those answers.




Contributed by Mason B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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