Brothers Sly Stone and singer/guitarist Freddie Stone combined their bands (Sly & the Stoners and Freddie & the Stone Souls) at the end of 1966. Sly and Freddie Stone, trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, drummer Gregg Errico, saxophonist Jerry Martini, and bassist Larry Graham completed the original lineup; Sly and Freddie's sister, singer/keyboardist Rose Stone, joined within a year. This collective recorded five Top 10 hits and four groundbreaking albums, which greatly influenced the sound of American pop music, soul, R&B, funk, and hip hop music. In the preface of his 1998 book For the Record: Sly and the Family Stone: An Oral History, Joel Selvin sums up the importance of Sly & the Family Stone's influence on African American music by stating "there are two types of black music: black music before Sly Stone, and black music after Sly Stone". The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
During the early 1970s, the band switched to a grittier funk sound, which was as influential on the music industry as their earlier work. The band began to fall apart during this period because of drug abuse and ego clashes; consequently, the fortunes and reliability of the band deteriorated, leading to its dissolution in 1975. Sly Stone continued to record albums and tour with a new rotating lineup under the "Sly & the Family Stone" name from 1975 to 1983. In 1987, Sly Stone was arrested and sentenced for cocaine use, after which he went into effective retirement.
Cynthia Robinson - January 12, 1944 – November 23, 2015
In Time
Sly & The Family Stone Lyrics
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In time you get faster
(In time)
Harry Hippie is a waste as if
He hasta procrastanatin'
Something moving in the brain of a doer
In time feel a little newer
I switched from coke to pep and I'm a connoisseur
Um hum
(About time)
'Cause there's a method in the madness of the thinkin'
In time, oh, we oughta
(In time)
It seems the best of all the sadness is a sinkin'
In time muddy water
(In time)
And there's a wreck yard in the mind of a quitter
In time gonna get bitter
(In time)
He don't give a heck or is he blind and makin' litter
In time gonna need a baby sitter
(About time)
I felt so good I told the leader how to follow
In time get down
(In time)
So glad I could not feel indeed so very hollow
No need to follow
Insecurities attracting every flirter
In time, yeah, it's murder
(In time)
If you don't mind please why give slack to a deserter
(About time)
Well, well, well, well, well, oh, day light is all I see
Ah, stay light away from me
See you tomorrow noon
(Miss me, I'll see you soon)
I told you it's not the teachin' it's the learnin'
In time don't need no burnin'
(In time)
And when I mold you to start reachin' in the mornin'
In time
Well, well, there's a feelin', oh, so real in every human
On time
(About time)
There's a reelin' when you don't know what you're doing
In time
(About time)
Hey
Stay around and get a show
Hey, hey, hey, hey don't you know
(In time)
Two years too long to wait
Two words will get it straight
(In time)
You see an answer in time
(In time)
And that ain't nothin', I'm a dancer
Two years too long to wait
Oh, two words will get it straight
Two years too long to wait
Two words will get it straight
(Yeah sure, yeah sure, yeah)
Two years too long to wait
Two words will get it straight
(In time, in time)
Two years too long to wait
Two words will get it straight
The opening verses of "In Time" by Sly & The Family Stone suggest that there's something to be gained from failure and mistakes, as well as the passage of time. The lyrics suggest that in time, one learns from failure and becomes wiser and more adept as a consequence. The lyrics mention that "there's a method in the madness of the thinking", implying that what may seem like chaos and confusion is actually a process that leads to growth and development. The message is ultimately hopeful and encourages the listener to keep pushing and learning, and eventually they will find the answer they seek.
The song then shifts to a more introspective tone, addressing personal demons and insecurities. The lyrics suggest that everyone has a darker side, or a "wreck yard" in their mind, and it's easy to become overwhelmed and give up. The chorus urges the listener to keep going, even when it's tough, and that perseverance will eventually be rewarded. The song ends on a positive note, with a call to action to stay active and engaged and to work towards personal growth and development.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a mickie in the tastin' of disaster
There's a hint of pleasure in experiencing something bad
In time you get faster
With time, you become quicker and more efficient
(In time)
Over time
Harry Hippie is a waste as if
Harry Hippie is as good as useless
He hasta procrastanatin'
He is always delaying things
Something moving in the brain of a doer
A person who takes action has thoughts racing in their mind
In time feel a little newer
Over time, you feel refreshed and rejuvenated
(In time)
Over time
I switched from coke to pep and I'm a connoisseur
I changed my taste in something and now I'm an expert in it
Um hum
Yes, that's right
(About time)
It's high time
'Cause there's a method in the madness of the thinkin'
There's a logic to even the craziest thoughts
In time, oh, we oughta
Over time, we should
(In time)
Over time
It seems the best of all the sadness is a sinkin'
The best way to deal with sadness is to let it go
In time muddy water
Over time, the situation becomes more difficult and unclear
(In time)
Over time
And there's a wreck yard in the mind of a quitter
A person who gives up easily has a lot of negative thoughts in their mind
In time gonna get bitter
Over time, they will become resentful
(In time)
Over time
He don't give a heck or is he blind and makin' litter
He doesn't care or he's unaware and causing problems
In time gonna need a baby sitter
Over time, he will need someone to look after him
(About time)
It's high time
I felt so good I told the leader how to follow
I was so confident that I gave advice to the person in charge
In time get down
Over time, enjoy what you're doing
(In time)
Over time
So glad I could not feel indeed so very hollow
I'm so happy I'm not feeling empty inside
No need to follow
There's no reason to imitate others
Insecurities attracting every flirter
Insecurities make a person an easy target for someone who wants to flirt with them
In time, yeah, it's murder
Over time, it becomes unbearable
(In time)
Over time
If you don't mind please why give slack to a deserter
If you don't mind, why should you tolerate someone who gives up easily?
(About time)
It's high time
Well, well, well, well, well, oh, day light is all I see
All I see is the truth
Ah, stay light away from me
Stay away from me if you bring negative energy
See you tomorrow noon
I'll see you tomorrow at noon
(Miss me, I'll see you soon)
I'll miss you but I'll see you again soon
I told you it's not the teachin' it's the learnin'
It's not just about what's taught, but also about what's learned
In time don't need no burnin'
Over time, there's no need for unnecessary stress
(In time)
Over time
And when I mold you to start reachin' in the mornin'
When I motivate you to start working hard in the morning
In time
Over time
Well, well, there's a feelin', oh, so real in every human
There's a genuine feeling in everyone
On time
Right on schedule
(About time)
It's high time
There's a reelin' when you don't know what you're doing
You feel restless when you're not sure what you're doing
In time
Over time
(About time)
It's high time
Hey
Hello
Stay around and get a show
Stick around and see what happens
Hey, hey, hey, hey don't you know
Don't you realize?
(In time)
Over time
Two years too long to wait
Waiting for two years is too long
Two words will get it straight
Two simple words will solve the problem
(In time)
Over time
You see an answer in time
The solution will come with time
(In time)
Over time
And that ain't nothin', I'm a dancer
And that's not all, I like to dance
Two years too long to wait
Waiting for two years is too long
Oh, two words will get it straight
Just two simple words will solve the problem
Two years too long to wait
Waiting for two years is too long
Two words will get it straight
Just two simple words will solve the problem
(Yeah sure, yeah sure, yeah)
Yes, of course
(In time, in time)
Over time
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sylvester Stewart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind