Time Will Tell
Taylor Koko Lyrics
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His empty glass
They seem to tell me...
His parting kiss, oh
Brought tears to my eyes
Was it goodnight?
I wanna know now, or was it goodbye?
And only time
Wrinkled up sofa
Scuff marks on the floor
Shows where he was sitting
Oh where he was sitting a moment ago
He's never left this early before
Is this a sign? Oh I wanna know if he'll be back for more
Only time will tell, oh...
I felt a change the moment you came walking,
Oh coming through my front door
This conversation was almost the same
Still I could tell that something was wrong, his feelings were changed
Now empty those ash trays
His glass put away, straighten my sofa... But will I ever, will ever erase from my mind the way you looked when you kissed me goodnight.
Only time will tell."
In Taylor Koko's song "Time Will Tell," the singer reflects on the aftermath of a breakup. The lyrics paint a picture of a deserted room where the remnants of her former lover's presence linger on in the form of cigarette ashes, an empty glass, and scuffed marks on the floor. Visions of his parting kiss bring tears to her eyes, and she wonders if it was truly a goodbye or just a goodnight. The singer is left to ponder the meaning of his abrupt departure and hopes that time will provide the answers she seeks.
The lyrics of "Time Will Tell" touch upon the universal experience of heartbreak and the deep emotions that come with it. The imagery in the song vividly captures the sense of loss and longing that often follows the end of a relationship. The cigarette ashes and empty glass symbolize the memories that are left behind, and the scuff marks on the floor suggest a frantic exit. The singer's desperation to understand the meaning of his departure is apparent in her repeated desire to know whether it was goodbye or just goodnight.
The overall message of "Time Will Tell" is one of acceptance and hope. While the singer is left with unanswered questions in the aftermath of her breakup, she acknowledges that the passage of time may provide the clarity she needs. The song suggests that even in the most painful moments of life, there is a possibility for healing and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Cigarette ashes
I notice the remnants of his cigarette on the ashtray
His empty glass
His glass of drink is now empty
They seem to tell me...
These remnants and empty glass seem to give me clues about what happened
His parting kiss, oh
The kiss he gave when leaving me
Brought tears to my eyes
I couldn't help but cry after his kiss
Was it goodnight?
I am not sure if he meant it as a goodbye or just a goodnight
I wanna know now, or was it goodbye?
I want to clarify whether he meant it as a goodbye or not
And only time
The truth will only be revealed after a period of time
Only time, time will tell
The answer to my questions will only be revealed by time
Wrinkled up sofa
The sofa where he used to sit has creases on it now
Scuff marks on the floor
The floor has scuff marks that indicate where he walked
Shows where he was sitting
The couch and floor marks show where he last sat before leaving
Oh where he was sitting a moment ago
He has left just a moment ago and the place where he used to stay is still warm
He's never left this early before
He usually stays longer and his early departure makes me wonder
Is this a sign? Oh I wanna know if he'll be back for more
His early departure may mean something, and I want to know if he will come back later
Only time will tell, oh...
Again, only time can provide me with the answers I am looking for
I felt a change the moment you came walking,
I sensed something different as soon as he entered the house
Oh coming through my front door
As he walked through the front door
This conversation was almost the same
Our interaction was similar to previous ones
Still I could tell that something was wrong, his feelings were changed
But I could sense that something was not right, and his feelings seemed to have changed
Now empty those ash trays
I want to remove the last remaining evidence of his presence
His glass put away, straighten my sofa...
I try to erase his traces by putting away his glass and straightening the couch covers
But will I ever, will ever erase from my mind the way you looked when you kissed me goodnight.
But I doubt if I can ever forget the way he looked when he kissed me goodbye
Only time will tell.
Once again, only time can tell if I will get the answers and forget my memory of that goodnight kiss
Contributed by Lucas B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nancylee5761
Love Koko's version of this song. It's the raw emotions & gravelly voice for me.
@davidkukla534
I seen Koko Taylor over 25 years ago at the Ill. State Fair and have never stopped listening to her since,also Stevie Ray Vaughn.Their music will touch my life till my last breath.
@cassiopeia1979
This song heals my soul.❤
@AmyLouJenkins
I heard her sing this live and became an instant fan!
@mwdadrummer202
Can't help feeling music like this,,, that's why I'm doing my part to keep music like hers & others alive,,, playing with a cover band with a powerhouse female singer...
@barrys4922
Fantastic song, great video. Thank you for posting this. I saw Koko once at the Checkerboard Lounge on Chicago's Southside, and once at a college campus in North Carolina. Both times, she had the audience enthralled.
@ettajames2luv
Love and miss her! One of my favorite Koko songs- Thanks for posting!
@josedomingostadelman738
Lo mejor en blues forever Koko
@TheLakewind
Love it and her.
@harrisonrangeldesouz
Perfeita!