Silverstein's passion for music was clear early on as he studied for a while at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. As a songwriter, Silverstein kept a low profile but cast a long shadow. He tended to shun publicity and even photographers. Nonetheless, his musical output included many songs which were hits for other artists. Most notably, he wrote the music and lyrics for "A Boy Named Sue" that was performed by Johnny Cash (for which he won a Grammy in 1970); "One's on the Way" (which was a hit for Loretta Lynn), and "The Unicorn Song" which, despite having nothing to do with Ireland nor Irish culture, became the signature piece for The Irish Rovers in 1968 and is popular in pubs all over the world to this day. He wrote the lyrics and music for most of the Dr. Hook songs, including "Cover of the Rolling Stone", "Freakin' at the Freakers' Ball", "Sylvia's Mother", and the cautionary song about VD, "Don't Give a Dose to the One You Love Most". He also wrote many of the songs performed by Bobby Bare, including "Marie Laveau", "Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe", "The Mermaid", "The Winner", and "Tequila Sheila". The song "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan",] recorded in 1979 by Marianne Faithfull and later featured in the films Montenegro and Thelma & Louise, was also by Silverstein.
Time
Shel Silverstein Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aren't they building the stairs a bit steeper these days?
And the town's really changin' in so many ways.
[Chorus: x3]
Time
The young folks, they're growin' exceptionally tall.
And folks speak so soft, you can hardly hear at all.
[Chorus: x3]
The jokes don't seem as witty as the old jokes once were.
And the gals aren't half as pretty as I remember her.
And today, you know, in the park, a young man called me "Sir".
[Chorus: x3]
Yeah, I'm not quite as anxious for fame or success.
And my eye finds the girl in the plain quiet dress.
And I cling a bit longer to each warm caress.
[Chorus: x3]
So I breathe a bit heavy when I climb a hill.
What of it? My life now is really much more fulfilled.
But they're tearin' down buildings that I watched 'em build.
[Chorus: x3]
The song "Time" by Shel Silverstein reflects on the gradual changes in society and the aging process. The first stanza discusses how the snow seems to fall deeper, the stairs become steeper, and the town is changing in various ways. This represents how life becomes more challenging and complex as we grow older.
The second stanza focuses on the physical changes that occur as we age, such as the younger generation growing taller while the newspaper print becomes smaller, and people speaking more softly. This emphasizes how our senses become less sharp over time.
The third stanza reflects on how things that were once amusing are no longer amusing. The singer also notices that the girls are not as pretty as they used to be, and a young man refers to him as "sir," which represents the loss of authority and power that comes with age.
In the final stanza, the singer reflects on how life becomes more fulfilling as we age. The singer values simple things like warm caresses, but at the same time, the singer is aware of the passage of time, noticing how the buildings that the singer watched get built are now being torn down.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't the snow falling just a bit deeper these days?
The passage of time seems to be making winter snowfall feel more intense.
Aren't they building the stairs a bit steeper these days?
The physical world is changing to a degree that it affects the way people move, like how stairs are built steeper than before.
And the town's really changin' in so many ways.
Beyond physical changes, the town is evolving into entirely different entities.
Time
The chorus of the song highlights the underlying message on the passage of time.
The young folks, they're growin' exceptionally tall.
The young people are taller as compared to previous generations due to changes over time.
And the newspaper print, it's becoming quite small.
As technology advances and the world change, newspapers are becoming less relevant and are not printed in larger print anymore.
And folks speak so soft, you can hardly hear at all.
People have changed their ways of communication too, speaking softer than usual.
The jokes don't seem as witty as the old jokes once were.
As people change, the sense of humor has also changed; the old jokes aren't as funny as they used to be.
And the gals aren't half as pretty as I remember her.
Beauty standards change over time, and people of earlier times and earth are prettier than those around today.
And today, you know, in the park, a young man called me "Sir".
Being recognized as an older man is a sign of the passing of time and one's position in society.
Yeah, I'm not quite as anxious for fame or success.
As one grows older, fame and success lose the appeal they once had, and life simplifies.
And my eye finds the girl in the plain quiet dress.
One's perspectives and priorities change over the years, making simple things like a girl in plain dress more appealing.
And I cling a bit longer to each warm caress.
As time passes, small moments that once seemed ordinary become even more valuable, like a warm embrace from a loved one.
So I breathe a bit heavy when I climb a hill.
Physical changes affect the way one's body moves and reacts, requiring effort even for simple tasks.
What of it? My life now is really much more fulfilled.
Despite the physical challenges of aging, one's perception of life's fulfillment can increase.
But they're tearin' down buildings that I watched 'em build.
The physical world continues to change, and places that hold significant meaning to people eventually fade away.
Time
The song's final chorus is a reminder that time is constantly passing and nothing can slow it down.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Shel Silverstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind