This song is notable for Chris Wolstenholme's groovy synth-bass riff that was inspired by Michael Jackson.
The video depicts a number of military officials seated at a round table performing actions simultaneously, moving to the beat of the song, as Muse play the song on the table, with the officials apparently oblivious to Muse's presence. Eventually, the officers begin to start dancing on the table, seeming to go insane. They eventually end up crawling. It is partially based on Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.
Time Is Running Out was featured on the FLYING-DOG Soundtrack
The song has been featured in an episode of Entourage entitled "The Boys Are Back in Town" and in 2008, the song was featured on Torchwood Declassified, to represent the deaths of two main characters.
In 2006, the song was featured in the trailer for the film Running Scared and was also used in promotional spots of the Turner Classic Movies channel.
In 2005, The Feeling covered the song for Jo Whiley's Live Lounge on Radio One. They apparently did not know what the song was called or who it was by when they covered it.
The song has been featured in the book Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz.
This song was used during a montage of Usain Bolt's 2008 Olympic performance on NBC.
A string version by The Section Quartet[1] was played in an episode of Gossip Girl entitled "New Haven Can Wait" on October 14, 2008.
The song was played during the late night Hollyoaks special "Back From The Dead".
The song was used during an Australian Beach Cricket game on Channel 9 after returning from a commercial break, and in doing so has become part of the elite class of songs that have been used as bumper music.
Time Is Running Out
Muse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Asphyxiated
I wanna break the spell
That you've created
You're something beautiful
A contradiction
I wanna play the game
I want the friction
You will be the death of me
Yeah, you will be the death of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
And our time is running out
And our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
I wanted freedom
Bound and restricted
I tried to give you up
But I'm addicted
Now that you know I'm trapped
Sense of elation
You'd never dream of
Breaking this fixation
You will squeeze the life out of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
And our time is running out
And our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
How did it come to this?
Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh, yeah, yeah, oh yeah, yeah
Yeah, you will suck the life out of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
And our time is running out
And our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
How did it come to this?
Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh, yeah, yeah, oh yeah, yeah
The lyrics of Muse's "Time Is Running Out" describe the feelings of being trapped in a relationship that is both exhilarating and suffocating. The opening lines, "I think I'm drowning, Asphyxiated, I wanna break the spell, That you've created" convey a sense of being overwhelmed and trapped in a situation that the singer cannot escape. Despite this, they confess their attraction to their partner, describing them as "something beautiful, A contradiction."
The chorus warns that "our time is running out," and the singer knows that the relationship is destructive and will eventually lead to their demise. The lines "You will be the death of me, Yeah, you will be the death of me" emphasize this idea. However, despite knowing that they need to break free, the singer finds themselves addicted to their partner, feeling a "sense of elation" that they cannot resist.
The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and urgency throughout, as the singer struggles with their conflicted feelings towards their partner. The repeated refrain of "I won't let you bury it, I won't let you smother it, I won't let you murder it" implies a sense of determination to fight against the destructive forces at play in the relationship. Ultimately, the song is a warning about the dangers of getting too deeply involved with someone who is both alluring and dangerous.
Line by Line Meaning
I think I'm drowning
I feel overwhelmed and suffocated by the influence of the person addressed in the song
Asphyxiated
I feel choked and deprived of air
I wanna break the spell
I want to break free from the controlling power that the person addressed in the song has over me
That you've created
The person addressed in the song has deliberately created this spell to keep me under their control
You're something beautiful
Despite the negative impact of the person addressed in the song, they're still beautiful and attractive
A contradiction
The beauty and the harm caused by the person addressed in the song coexist as a contradiction
I wanna play the game
I want to engage in a power struggle with the person addressed in the song
I want the friction
I want to create tension and conflict with the person addressed in the song
You will be the death of me
The person addressed in the song has the power to completely destroy me
Bury it
I refuse to let the controlling influence of the person addressed in the song bury me
I won't let you bury it
I won't allow the person addressed in the song to bury me under their control
I won't let you smother it
I won't let the person addressed in the song suffocate me with their influence
I won't let you murder it
I won't let the person addressed in the song kill my spirit and independence
And our time is running out
We're running out of time to resolve this conflict
You can't push it underground
The conflict and tension between us can't be ignored or hidden
You can't stop it screaming out
Our conflict and tension will continue to be expressed and heard
I wanted freedom
I desire independence and the ability to make my own choices
Bound and restricted
The person addressed in the song has limited my freedom and choices
I tried to give you up
I tried to break free from the person addressed in the song but was unsuccessful
But I'm addicted
Despite my desire for independence, I'm still attracted to and reliant on the person addressed in the song
Now that you know I'm trapped
You know that I'm still under your control and unable to break free
Sense of elation
Despite the negative impact of your influence, I feel a sense of happiness and pleasure
You'd never dream of
You would never imagine breaking our toxic cycle
Breaking this fixation
Breaking free from this addictive, harmful cycle between us
You will squeeze the life out of me
The person addressed in the song will suffocate and kill me with their controlling power
How did it come to this?
I'm questioning how we got into this destructive cycle
Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
An expression of frustration and emotion
Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
An expression of frustration and emotion
Ooh, yeah, yeah, oh yeah, yeah
An expression of frustration and emotion
Yeah, you will suck the life out of me
The person addressed in the song will drain me of vitality, energy, and spirit
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Matthew James Bellamy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@reviagomes
I think I'm drowning
Asphyxiated
I wanna break this spell
That you've created
You're something beautiful
A contradiction
I wanna play the game
I want the friction
You will be the death of me
You will be the death of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
Our time is running out
Our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
I wanted freedom
Bound and restricted
I tried to give you up
But I'm addicted
Now that you know I'm trapped sense of elation
You'd never dream of
Breaking this fixation
You will squeeze the life out of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
Our time is running out
Our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
How did it come to this?
Oh
You will suck the life out of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
Our time is running out
Our time is running out
You can't push it underground
You can't stop it screaming out
How did it come to this?
Oh
@rafaels3185
lyrics
Muse - Time Is Running Out
I think I'm drowning
Asphyxiated
I wanna break this spell
That you've created
You're something beautiful
A contradiction
I wanna play the game
I want the friction
You will be
The death of me
Yeah, You will be
The death of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
Our time is running out
And our time is running out
You can't push it underground
We can't stop it screaming out
I wanted freedom,
Bound and restricted
I tried to give you up
But I'm addicted
Now that you know I'm trapped
Sense of elation
You'll never dream of breaking this fixation
You will squeeze the life out of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
Our time is running out
And our time is running out
You can't push it underground
We can't stop it screaming out
How did it come to this
Ooooh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Ooooh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Ooooh yeah yeah oooh yeah yeah
You will suck the life out of me
Bury it
I won't let you bury it
I won't let you smother it
I won't let you murder it
Our time is running out
And our time is running out
You can't push it underground
We can't stop it screaming out
How did it come to this
Ooooh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Ooooh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Ooooh yeah yeah oooh yeah yeah
@observee
I dont always lisen to muse, but when i do, so do my neighbours
@williammcewen-benatar9127
What a coincidence
@Dani_1012
How many bricks have they thrown at your window
@NevadaLina
+1 it’s me right meow
@fubars4202
Me at this exact moment
@katielillys
How can u not always listen to muse
@safwanalvi8887
that oooohooohooyaiyaiyaiyaiyyaaah part is just amazing. love it for some reason.
@valerievega396
Very well-said 😌👏🏼👏🏼 and, me too.
@nono-nj7vo
Me too. MUSE FOREVER 💕
@TheDreamingangel28
Anything Muse does sounds hot..that's why :)