Michel Legrand made his fame and fortune from writing for films, but he has done significant work in jazz on an occasional basis. In 1957, he arranged a set of dixieland and swing standards for a French orchestra (recorded on Philips), in 1958 he used three different all-star groups for the classic Legrand Jazz (with such sidemen as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Phil Woods, Herbie Mann, Bill Evans, Ben Webster, Art Farmer and others), in 1968 he recorded a strictly jazz set with a trio and Legrand has written for albums led by Stan Getz (1971), Sarah Vaughan (1972), and on several occasions, Phil Woods. Several of his songs (such as "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life", "Watch What Happens" and "The Summer Knows") have been recorded many times by jazz musicians.
The Hands of Time
Michel Legrand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Were hands that I could hold,
I'd keep them warm and in my hands
They'd not turn cold.
Hand in hand we'd choose
The moments that should last.
The lovely moments that
The summer from the top of the swing,
The comfort in the sound of a lullaby,
The innocence of leaves in the spring,
But most of all the moment
When love first touched me!
All the happy days
Would never learn to fly,
Until the hands of time
Would choose to wave Goodbye.
Michel Legrand's song The Hands of Time is a beautiful and sentimental ode to the passage of time and the importance of cherishing the moments that we have in life. The opening line of the song, "If the hands of time were hands that I could hold," immediately sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The singer is expressing a desire to have control over time itself, to be able to hold it in his hands and keep it from slipping away.
He goes on to describe how he would choose to spend his time if he could control it. The hands of time would never turn cold, indicating that he wants to live in a perpetual state of warmth and love. He talks about choosing the moments that should last, the ones that are particularly special and meaningful to him. These moments could be anything from the joy of swinging on a summer day to the comfort of a lullaby to the innocence of spring leaves. But most of all, he treasures the moment when love first touched him.
However, the singer acknowledges that all good things must come to an end. Even the happiest days must eventually say goodbye when the hands of time choose to wave farewell. There is a bittersweet quality to the song, as it speaks to the fleeting nature of time and the importance of seizing the moment before it's gone forever.
Overall, The Hands of Time is a poignant and timeless song that captures the essence of what it means to be alive and to cherish the moments that we have.
Line by Line Meaning
If the hands of time
If time was a physical object that I could control
Were hands that I could hold,
If I could hold time and contain it
I'd keep them warm and in my hands
I would not let time slip by and I would experience it fully
They'd not turn cold.
I would not let time pass me by and be forgotten
Hand in hand we'd choose
Together we would pick
The moments that should last.
The experiences that we cherish
The lovely moments that
Times that create beautiful memories
Should have no future and no past.
Times that exist only in the present
The summer from the top of the swing,
The feeling of joy in the summertime, swinging on a swing set
The comfort in the sound of a lullaby,
The peaceful and calming feeling of hearing a lullaby
The innocence of leaves in the spring,
The fresh and new feeling of leaves in the springtime
But most of all the moment
Above all else, the memory
When love first touched me!
Of when I first fell in love
All the happy days
All the joyful times
Would never learn to fly,
Would not be experienced to the fullest extent
Until the hands of time
Until I can control time
Would choose to wave Goodbye.
Until the time comes to an end
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHEL LEGRAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Leddy Rarela
I just came across this video and is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the greatest composer/pianist that ever lived. thank you, Michel Legrand for your great, big contribution to the music industry. your music lives on...
MrLinoventura
EXTRA....RIP...m.Legrand....et merci !
JerseySurvivor
A world without the irreplaceable Michel Legrand is a sad place. Thank you so much for the rich musical legacy that will last longer than the hands of time.
MrLinoventura
Merci...of FRance ...
GrotrianSeiler
Michel Legrand at the piano in this is such a treat. What a great songwriter! Thanks for posting this.
andré MARSEUL
Merci Michel pour toutes tes belles et inoubliables musiques.
Maria José Rios
Sublime pianiste !!! Pas de mots ! C'est génial ! Merci infiniment pour les beaux moments que vous m'avez fait en vous écoutant Jouer votre piano !!! Inoubliable à jamais .
M.J. Leger
What a talent he was, responsible for some of the most beautiful music ever. RIP, the hands of time stopped for Michel; he passed away on 1-26-19. He worked with Alan and Marilyn who wrote lyrics for some of his most memorable work. I have been a fan for many years, and will continue to love his music.
Jean-Pierre Lognoul
Merci pour toutes tes géniales compositions ... (y)
Benjamin Miller
Such an emotional song and movie. One of my goto films when I need a good cry. Wish I could have had the great pleasure of seeing Michael Legrand Live. What a legacy he left with the world ❤