Time's Hand In Your Pocket
Max Stalling Lyrics
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The conspicuous hump of a gray woman's back
It's the weeds in the rails of the Burlington track
It's the knowing that yesterday can never come back
Like a windmill that's harnessed the breeze for years
Till the gusts and the rust have ruined it's gears
It's a faded out map from when the steel rails still shown
It's time's hand in your pocket taking all that you own
It's the Frio Town courthouse left to stand all alone
It's the age of the cowboy when there's no old west left
Where we go from here boys is anyone's guess I guess
It's a whore's realization that her beauty will spoil
It's a wildcatter's nightmare that there is no more oil
It's the hills and the parries dissected with roads
It's the future, the damned future, and it's and I'll wind that
Bodes
It's time's hand in your pocket taking all that you own
The gambler's tired eyes when his last card is thrown
It's the age of the cowboy when there's no old west left
Where we go from here boys is anyone's guess I guess
Instrumental
The old mountain man has seen his last first snow
The dried up old poet he knows his last rhyme has flowed
I don't believe things live just to die
But I just don't think I'll ever understand why
It's time's hand in your pocket taking all that you own
Like the wave robs the shoreline and wind carves the stone
It's the age of the cowboy when there's no old west left
Where we go from here boys
Where the hell are we now boys
Wha'll we do now boys is anyone's guess I guess
I'd sure hate to guess.
The song "Time's Hand In Your Pocket" by Max Stalling is a contemplative track that talks about the effects of time on the world around us. It starts by painting a picture of a rundown, abandoned line shack with sagging timbers and weeds growing on the rails of the Burlington track, a poignant reminder that yesterday is gone and never coming back. The song compares time to a windmill that has harnessed the breeze for years until it's gears are ruined by rust and gusts, and to a faded out map from when the steel rails still shone.
The second verse talks about time's impact on people – a whore's realization that her beauty will spoil, a wildcatter's nightmare that there is no more oil, and the old mountain man seeing his last first snow. The song ends by acknowledging that while death is a natural part of life, it's something that we may never quite understand or come to terms with. In the chorus, the song talks about time's hand in our pockets, taking all that we own and leaving us uncertain about where we go from here.
Overall, "Time's Hand In Your Pocket" is a powerful song that encourages listeners to reflect on the transience of life and to appreciate the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the sag in the timbers of and abandoned line shack
It represents a moment of time where everything was working together, but now it has come to a standstill.
The conspicuous hump of a gray woman's back
It represents the metaphorical weight that time carries on a person, leaving them with a hunch or limp due to their experiences.
It's the weeds in the rails of the Burlington track
It represents the forgotten and the neglected, as the rail and track, grown over with weeds and plants, shows no sign of life.
It's the knowing that yesterday can never come back
It represents coming to terms with the inescapable fact that time is constantly moving forward, and that the past cannot be revisited.
Like a windmill that's harnessed the breeze for years
It represents time as a force of nature that has been continually active and working tirelessly.
Till the gusts and the rust have ruined it's gears
It represents how, eventually, time can wear down the most stalwart institutions, just as wind and rust can corrode even the strongest objects.
It's a faded out map from when the steel rails still shown
It represents how the passage of time can obscure the past, making it difficult to accurately remember or understand what once was.
It's a well worn old riding horse that some kid's outgrown
It represents a stark reminder that even the most cherished and well cared for things eventually fall into disuse as people grow older and their interests change.
It's time's hand in your pocket taking all that you own
It represents how time takes away all that people hold dear as they age and the world moves forward without them.
It's the Frio Town courthouse left to stand all alone
It represents the impact that time can have on a community, leaving once-bustling centers of activity bereft of human presence.
It's the age of the cowboy when there's no old west left
It represents the rapid shift of time, where what was once considered modern and cutting-edge now seems archaic and outdated.
Where we go from here boys is anyone's guess I guess
It represents the ambiguity surrounding the future and the uncertain path that lies ahead.
It's a whore's realization that her beauty will spoil
It represents how time's effects alter a person's physical appearance, leaving even the most attractive people feeling helpless against its ravages.
It's a wildcatter's nightmare that there is no more oil
It represents the decline of natural resources as they are slowly depleted by time and exploration, leading to fear and uncertainty among those that rely on them.
It's the hills and the parries dissected with roads
It represents how progress and time can alter the natural landscape, cutting into hills and prairies with roads and structures.
It's the future, the damned future, and it's and I'll wind that Bodes
It represents how the future can be unpredictable and filled with challenges, with an ill wind hinting at the difficulties to come.
The gambler's tired eyes when his last card is thrown
It represents how time can deplete one's resources, leaving them with little left to give, even after a lifetime of gambling or taking risks.
The old mountain man has seen his last first snow
It represents how time can strip away even the most elemental joys, leaving people with little left to cling to as they continue to age.
The dried up old poet he knows his last rhyme has flowed
It represents how time can rob people of their creative ability and intellectual energies, leaving them exhausted and unable to create as effectively.
It's the wave robs the shoreline and wind carves the stone
It represents the relentlessness of time, as natural forces erode even the most seemingly sturdy objects, much like how it erodes human life.
Where the hell are we now boys
It represents the frustration and confusion that comes from being lost in time or feeling like one has lost their way, without a clear destination in sight.
Wha'll we do now boys is anyone's guess I guess
It represents how each person's individual journey through time is unique, and that nobody can predict what will come next or how they will handle the challenges that arise.
Contributed by Adrian R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.