Originally a quartet whose sound drew inspiration from psychedelia, The Beloved found its greatest success as a rave-influenced dance-pop duo. Throughout its fluid existence, the guiding force behind the group remained vocalist Jon Marsh, who formed the band The Journey Through in Cambridge, UK with Steve Waddington and Tim Havard; with the addition of Guy Gausden (November 1984), the group renamed itself the Beloved, and gradually evolved into a moody dance outfit not dissimilar to New Order.
In 1986, The Beloved issued their first single, "A Hundred Words" a series of releases (including the EP Happy Now, the double A-sided single "Surprise Me"/"Forever Dancing" and the 1987 compliation Where It Is) followed, but none garnered any significant critical or commercial success. Consequently, Gousden and Havard exited in 1987, at much the same time Marsh and Waddington were falling under the sway of London's burgeoning rave community. After first re-emerging with the ambient-styled single "The Sun Rising" the Beloved then scored an international hit with "Hello" a bubbling techno exercise which name-checked many of the group's influences.
In 1990, the duo issued a pair of albums, Happiness and Blissed Out (a remix of its sister release) which achieved significant success both in and out of clubs. A long layoff followed, however, and when The Beloved returned in 1993 with Conscience, Waddington had been ousted in favor of Marsh's wife Helena, resulting in a more pop-oriented flavour. After another three-year absence, they released X, a foray back into club culture. In 1997 they released Single File, a compilation album and a bunch of new remixes of The Sun Rising.
Jon Marsh has for some ten years been concentrating on his flourishing career as a club DJ, as well as the raising of his young family. However, a new collaboration with Steve Waddington is in the works, and while the Beloved's plans for a new album release in 2006 never came to fruition, it is apparently still in the works.
(Not to be confused with North Carolina, USA band Beloved. If you are here due to that artist, Fix your artist tags to remove "The".)
Time After Time
The Beloved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm too involved to realize
That your uncertainty will be the death of me
But I lose my will and if looks could kill
Time after time you challenge me for a reason
I know that I'm impossible and deceiving
I see the signs, you're telling me that you're leaving
Time after time, time after time
These games of politics and romance
They're quite impossible to win I can't unfathom you
One minute you love me or you say you do
And then I turn my back, I'm under attack
I turn to hold you and you stick me for nothing
Time after time you challenge me for a reason
I know that I'm impossible and deceiving
I see the signs, you're telling me that you're leaving
Time after time, time after time
And if I change to be the way you say you want me
I'll only be the way I've always wanted to.
You know as well as I do
You know as well as I do
Time after time you challenge me for a reason
I know that I'm impossible and deceiving
I see the signs, you're telling me that you're leaving
Time after time, oh time after time
Time after time you challenge me for a reason
I know that I'm impossible and deceiving
I see the signs, you're telling me that you're leaving
Time after time
Oh, well I still love you, time after time
Oh, I love you, time after time
You know, you know, I still love you, time after time
Oh, I love you, time after time after time after time after time
The Beloved's song Time After Time is a heartbreaking ballad about the frustration, uncertainty, and challenge of a tumultuous relationship. The lead singer is "too headstrong for [their] own good" and "too involved to realize" that the "uncertainty" of their partner is "the death" of them. Despite this, they are "struck down dead" by their partner's "beautiful eyes" and the power they hold over them.
The lyrics suggest that the couple frequently challenges each other, playing "games of politics and romance," which are "impossible to win." The singer feels that they cannot "unfathom" their partner's feelings, and they are constantly "under attack" when they turn their back to them. The relationship is unstable, and the singer sees the signs that their partner is leaving, yet they still love them "time after time."
The song explores the complexities and difficulties of relationships and the frustration of not being able to understand or change the other person. The singer realizes that they are "impossible and deceiving," but cannot help their own behavior. Ultimately, the song is a plea for understanding and forgiveness.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm much too headstrong for my own good
I am stubborn and don't listen to others' advice, which could end up being detrimental to me.
I'm too involved to realize
I am so invested in this relationship that I have lost my ability to see things objectively.
That your uncertainty will be the death of me
Your lack of commitment and unclear intentions will eventually lead to the end of this relationship and it will greatly affect me.
But I lose my will and if looks could kill
You have a certain power over me that I cannot resist, even if it causes me harm.
I've been struck down dead by your beautiful eyes
Your physical beauty has a hold over me that I cannot resist, even if it is harmful to me.
Time after time you challenge me for a reason
Repeatedly, you put me in difficult situations or question my actions to show me that my behavior is unacceptable.
I know that I'm impossible and deceiving
I am aware that I am acting in an unreasonable way and constantly lying to you about my feelings and intentions.
I see the signs, you're telling me that you're leaving
I have noticed that you are giving me signals that you want to break up with me and I am aware that this might happen soon.
These games of politics and romance
The interactions between us are not only driven by emotions but also by strategic considerations, which make the situation more complicated.
They're quite impossible to win I can't unfathom you
It is difficult to understand your motivations and I feel like I cannot win your approval or love.
One minute you love me or you say you do
Your feelings toward me seem to change rapidly, leaving me confused and uncertain about the status of our relationship.
And then I turn my back, I'm under attack
When I am not paying attention, you suddenly become hostile or distant, putting me on the defensive.
I turn to hold you and you stick me for nothing
When I try to be affectionate or intimate with you, you reject me, even if there is no apparent reason for it.
And if I change to be the way you say you want me
If I try to modify my behavior or personality to meet your expectations, which you have expressed before,
I'll only be the way I've always wanted to.
I would still act according to my own desires and beliefs, and not necessarily in a way that is true to who you want me to be.
You know as well as I do
You are fully aware of the problems we are facing in our relationship, and you cannot pretend that everything is okay.
Oh, well I still love you, time after time
Despite all the challenges and difficulties, I still have strong feelings of love and attachment to you.
Oh, I love you, time after time
My love for you endures, no matter how many times we argue or disagree about things.
You know, you know, I still love you, time after time
You are aware that I am in love with you, and these feelings have not diminished despite our disagreements and fights.
Oh, I love you, time after time after time after time after time
My love for you is infinite and will persist no matter how many ups and downs we experience in our relationship.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sebastian Montagu
Always my favourite The Beloved song. Who else sings "I know that I'm impossible and deceiving"? I have played this song so many times in the car in multiple countries for nearly three decades now.
Spider Barnett
Let's go back to the 90,s love you.
Лилия Дурягина
I.m crying💓💓💓💓💓
Лилия Дурягина
Это отдохновение сердцу, это прекрасно
Лилия Дурягина
IT IS RELAX FOR MY HEARS, FOR MY HEART..sorry , my english💗💓💗💓
RJ KORE
Yup...years can go by...hear it again & know every word... song was my teenage obsession...lol...
Az xox
these guys had some truly nice and melodic songs, arranged very intelligently, reaching perfection in some aspects.. this one is especially beautiful...
mootsmanuva
Great song. Will never get bored of the Happiness album.
Matt Ma
Just my 2 cents: This beautiful song and Duran Duran's "Come Undone" are PERFECT match!
Code Deb
Yess!