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
Time
Sly & The Family Stone Lyrics
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Needs another minute
(at least)
Take your time
But you've got a limit
That girl looks forward to another meetin'
Time
A bear in the woods looks forward to hibernatin'
Just any ol' player you know all he needs is a ratin'
Time is education
Even when they tell you it's sophistication
You know that time
Needs to be a little longer
Oh time!
The universe needs to be a little stronger
Time they say is
The answer
But I don't believe it
Time
in the lyrics of this song by Sly & The Family Stone is explored from multiple perspectives. The first verse talks about how time is limited and that while we should take our time, we should also be mindful of the fact that we have a limit. The second verse talks about how time is important to different people in different ways. For instance, a girl looks forward to meeting someone, while a bear looks forward to hibernation. The third verse suggests that time is important for education and sophistication. However, the singer does not seem to believe that time is the answer to all questions.
Through these lyrics, Sly & The Family Stone are suggesting that time is a complex concept that affects people in different ways. While it is valuable, it is also limited. The song seems to suggest that we should cherish the time that we have and use it wisely but not place too much pressure on ourselves to achieve everything within a specific time frame. Ultimately, the song seems to be a reflection on the complexity of time and how it shapes our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Time needs another minute (at least)
Time is always running out and we always want more of it.
Take your time, but you've got a limit
You should use your time wisely because there is only so much of it.
That girl looks forward to another meetin' / Just like everydaypeoplelknow look forward to another simple greetin'
People always look forward to the next meeting or interaction with someone they care about.
Time / A bear in the woods looks forward to hibernatin' / Just any ol' player you know all he needs is a ratin'
Time is important to everyone and everything, whether it's taking a break or striving for success.
Time is education / Even when they tell you it's sophistication
Time can teach you more than any formal education, even if society tells you that sophistication is more important.
You know that time / Needs to be a little longer / Oh time!
We always want more time to do the things we love or to spend more time with loved ones.
The universe needs to be a little stronger
Time affects everything in the universe, and sometimes we wish we had more control over it.
Time they say is / The answer
People often say that time is the answer to many problems, because it can heal old wounds or bring new opportunities.
But I don't believe it / Time is a dancer
The artist may not believe that time is always the answer, but they acknowledge that time is always moving and changing like a dancer.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sylvester Stewart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind