Moby found commercial and critical success with his fifth album Play (1999), which, after receiving little recognition, became an unexpected global hit in 2000 after each track was licensed to films, television shows, and commercials. It remains his highest selling album with 12 million copies sold. Its seventh single, "South Side", featuring Gwen Stefani, remains his only one to appear on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 14. Moby followed Play with albums of varied styles including electronic, dance, rock, and downtempo music, starting with 18 (2002), Hotel (2005), and Last Night (2008). His later albums saw him explore ambient music, including the almost four-hour release Long Ambients 1: Calm. Sleep. (2016). Moby continues to record and release albums; his twenty-first studio album, Resound NYC, was released in May 2023.
In addition to his music career, Moby is known for his veganism and support for animal rights and humanitarian aid. He was the owner of TeaNY, a vegan cafe in Manhattan, and Little Pine, a vegan restaurant in Los Angeles, and organized the vegan music and food festival Circle V. He is the author of four books, including a collection of his photography and two memoirs: Porcelain: A Memoir (2016) and Then It Fell Apart (2019).
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby
Discography
Moby (1992)
Ambient (1993)
Everything Is Wrong (1995)
Animal Rights (1996)
Play (1999)
18 (2002)
Hotel (2005)
Last Night (2008)
Wait for Me (2009)
Destroyed (2011)
Innocents (2013)
Long Ambients 1: Calm. Sleep. (2016)
These Systems Are Failing (2016)
More Fast Songs About the Apocalypse (2017)
Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt (2018)
Long Ambients 2 (2019)
All Visible Objects (2020)
Live Ambient Improvised Recordings Vol. 1 (2020)
Reprise (2021)
Ambient 23 (2023)
Resound NYC (2023)
Time's Up
Moby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
wake up, face the future
cause I feel I have to salute you
on the things that's goin on, in this world today
you can run, but you can't hide
you have to find your sense of pride
to let you know, that this world, will never decay
It's later than it's ever been, time's up (time's up)
It's later than it's ever been, time's up (time's up)
It's later than it's ever been, time's up, in this world, today
brothers and sisters, grab a hold
there's a story solid as gold
we must try to stay alive
we must strive, and never slip away
where there's sunshine, there is rain
where there is joy there will be pain
we must move, m?--? move
we must move, and never decay
It's later than it's ever been, time's up (time's up)
It's later than it's ever been, time's up (time's up)
It's later than it's ever been, time's up, in this world, today
yo yo my brother my brother
let me lay it on the downstroke
I want you to know that I will provoke
anything that life will bring
because within these words I have a antidote
the time is comin' for the song that I'm hummin'
to let you know it's later than it's ever been
your time is up, you sad faced clown
now here's da breakdown (da breakdown, da breakdown, da breakdown)
(sung vocals)
It is later, than it's ever been
the life you livin', try not to sin
it is later, it is later, it is later, than it's ever been
keep on movin', and grab a hold
the life you livin', must have control
we can do it, we can do it, we can do it, if we try
It is later, than it's ever been
the life you livin', try not to sin
it is later, it is later, it is later, than it's ever been
keep on movin', and grab a hold
the life you livin', must have control
we can do it, we can do it, we can do it, if we try
(spoken style)
It's later than it's ever been, time's up (time's up)
It's later than it's ever been, time's up (time's up)
It's later than it's ever been, time's up, in this world, today
The lyrics to Moby's song "Time's Up" wake the listener up and urge them to face the future. The singer salutes the listener for being aware of the things going on in the world today, and encourages them to find their sense of pride. The world will never decay, but it is later than it has ever been. Brothers and sisters are urged to hold on to a story as solid as gold, and strive to stay alive, never slipping away. There will be sunshine and rain, joy and pain, but we must move and never decay. The singer reminds the listener that their time is up and that they need to grasp control. The song urges listeners to keep moving and control the life they are living.
Line by Line Meaning
wake up, face the future
Be aware of the present and prepare for the upcoming future
cause I feel I have to salute you
In an expression of respect, acknowledging the listener's existence and the fact that they are there to witness what's happening in the world
on the things that's goin on, in this world today
Talking about current global events that are happening in the present
you can run, but you can't hide
There's no escape from the reality of what's going on in the world
you have to find your sense of pride
It's important to have self-love and confidence
to let you know, that this world, will never decay
Even though the world may go through difficult times, it will never fully fall apart
It's later than it's ever been, time's up (time's up)
Emphasizing the urgency of the message, that time is running out for people to take action
in this world, today
Referring back to the present situation of the world
brothers and sisters, grab a hold
Addressing the listener as a family, they should hold on to one another
there's a story solid as gold
There's a valuable lesson to be learned
we must try to stay alive
We should make an effort to survive and persevere
we must strive, and never slip away
We should aim for greatness and never give up or fall behind
where there's sunshine, there is rain
Life has its ups and downs, good and bad times
where there is joy there will be pain
With happiness, there often comes a price to pay
we must move, m?--? move
We need to keep going and not stagnate
we must move, and never decay
We should keep progressing and not let ourselves fall apart
yo yo my brother my brother
Another expression of respect, saluting the listener again and acknowledging them as a family member
let me lay it on the downstroke
Let me speak candidly and to the point
I want you to know that I will provoke
I want to incite change and action in you
anything that life will bring
Whatever challenges come our way, we should be ready to face them and overcome them
because within these words I have a antidote
The lyrics of the song contain a remedy for the issues that the world is facing
the time is comin' for the song that I'm hummin'
The song is a call to action for people to take notice of the issues at hand
to let you know it's later than it's ever been
To remind the listener that time is running out to tackle the issues of the world
your time is up, you sad faced clown
A metaphorical reference to people who aren't taking action, telling them that it's time for them to wake up and get serious
now here's da breakdown (da breakdown, da breakdown, da breakdown)
A sudden change in the music and tempo, signalling a need for people to take action and make a change
the life you livin', try not to sin
Live your life to the fullest, but without harming others or causing any negativity
keep on movin', and grab a hold
Keep going and don't give up, but don't do it alone, hold on to others for support
we can do it, we can do it, we can do it, if we try
We have the power to make a change if we make the effort to try
Contributed by Elliot Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
d3umbug
Great tune