The group was formed in 1954 in Los Angeles by four brothers from Mississippi, Lester, George, Willie and Joe Chambers. They toured extensively throughout southern California but did not achieve nationwide success until 1965 when, with the addition of drummer Brian Keenan, they appeared at the Newport Folk Festival. Shortly after this they recorded their debut album People Get Ready. The band scored their first major hit in 1968 with "Time Has Come Today", from their similarly named third album The Time Has Come. However they found it difficult to build on this success and their manager had alienated both record company representatives and producers. He also misappropriated the groups' earnings . They eventually split up in 1971. They reformed without Brian Keenan in 1974 to record Unbonded and have toured regularly since.
Brian Keenan's percussion work on "Time Has Come Today" makes this song a classic in combination with Lester Chambers' lyrics. In the San Francisco Summer of Love in 1967, "Time Has Come Today" stood on its own merits and a refreshing respite from the otherwise drug adoring culture.
Time Has Come
The Chambers Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Time has come today
Young hearts can go their way
Can't put it off another day
I don't care what others say
They say we don't listen anyway
Time has come today, hey
Oh
The room will change today (hey)
I have no place to stay (hey)
Thinking about the subway (hey)
My love has flown away (hey)
My tears have come and gone (hey)
Oh, my Lord, I have to run
I have no home (hey)
I have no home (hey)
Now the time has come (time)
No place to run (time)
I might get burned up by the sun (time)
But I'll have my fun (time)
I've been loved and put aside (time)
I've been crushed by tumbling tide (time)
And my soul has been psychedelicized (time)
(Time)
Now the time has come (time)
There are things to realize (time)
Time has come today (time)
Time has come today (time)
Time
Time
Time
Time
Yeah
The Chambers Brothers's song Time Has Come Today is a soulful, psychedelic tune that explores themes of freedom, youth, and change. The opening lines of the song, "Time has come today/ Young hearts can go their way/ Can't put it off another day/ I don't care what others say" sets the tone for the song's message. The singer is declaring his or her independence and freedom, refusing to let others dictate their life choices or hold them back. The repetition of "time has come today" reinforces the urgency of this declaration, suggesting that the singer has been waiting for this moment to break free and assert their own agency.
The verses of the song are more introspective, exploring the singer's sense of displacement and longing for connection. The lines, "The room will change today/ I have no place to stay/ Thinking about the subway/ My love has flown away/ My tears have come and gone/ Oh, my Lord, I have to run/ I have no home" suggest a sense of rootlessness and instability, as the singer reflects on love lost and the transience of their current situation. The repetition of "hey" after each line creates a sense of urgency and emotional intensity, highlighting the singer's pain and longing.
The overall message of the song is one of hope and determination, as the singer declares that "now the time has come" to embrace change, face their fears, and live life on their own terms. The song's soaring vocals, driving rhythm, and powerful lyrics have made it a beloved classic of the 1960s and a timeless anthem of youth culture and rebellion.
Line by Line Meaning
Time has come today
It is high time for something significant to happen
Young hearts can go their way
Younger people can pursue their own path of happiness
Can't put it off another day
The time is now and the task cannot be postponed any longer
I don't care what others say
I am not bothered about the opinions of others
They say we don't listen anyway
People believe that we don't pay attention regardless of what is said
Time has come today, hey
Again, it is time to take significant action
Oh
Expression of surprise or sudden that came to the mind
The room will change today (hey)
The place will undergo some significant modifications
I have no place to stay (hey)
I do not have accommodation to stay in
Thinking about the subway (hey)
Reflecting on the subway station or using public transport
My love has flown away (hey)
My beloved one has left or departed
My tears have come and gone (hey)
I have experienced emotional ups and downs
Oh, my Lord, I have to run
Expression of urgency or a need to escape
I have no home (hey)
I am homeless
Now the time has come (time)
Once again, something serious is about to happen
No place to run (time)
There is nowhere safe to escape
I might get burned up by the sun (time)
Taking a risk of being destroyed or hurt
But I'll have my fun (time)
Even amidst chaos, there is still time for the enjoyment of a personal life
I've been loved and put aside (time)
I have loved and been rejected or neglected
I've been crushed by the tumbling tide (time)
I have experienced severe setbacks
And my soul has been psychedelicized (time)
I have experienced significant spiritual, sensory and perceptual changes
(Time)
Signifies the importance of time and the change that occurs during the passage of time
There are things to realize (time)
There are things in life we must all come to understand
Time has come today (time)
The chorus is repeated to emphasise the need for change and action
Time
Continued emphasis on the importance of time
Time
Continued emphasis on the importance of time
Time
Continued emphasis on the importance of time
Time
Continued emphasis on the importance of time
Yeah
Expression of enthusiasm or agreement
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joseph Lamar Chambers, Willie Mack Chambers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
비정한세상
Time has come today
Young hearts can go their way
Can't put it off another day
I don't care what others say
They say we don't listen anyway
Time has come today
(Hey)
The rules have changed today (Hey)
I have no place to stay (Hey)
I'm thinking about the subway (Hey)
My love has flown away (Hey)
My tears have come and gone (Hey)
Oh my Lord, I have to roam (Hey)
I have no home (Hey)
Now the time has come (Time)
There's no place to run (Time)
I might get burned up by the sun (Time)
But I had my fun (Time)
I've been loved and put aside (Time)
I've been crushed by the tumbling tide (Time)
And my soul has been psychedelicized (Time)
(Time)
Now the time has come (Time)
There are things to realize (Time)
Time has come today (Time)
Now the time has come (Time)
There's no place to run (Time)
I might get burned up by the sun (Time)
But I had my fun (Time)
I've been loved and put aside (Time)
I've been crushed by tumbling tide (Time)
And my soul has been psychedelicized (Time)
Time [x4]
Yeah
Pybs Llc
I am a 74 year old woman and I bought this "album" when it came out AND I still have it..loved it then..love it now..
Jeanette West
My older sister brought this home one day after school back in 1972. I still love it too.
Kappy
very impressive
affirmed
You Made My Day😁🤑
Timothy J. Lambert
It was, truly, the best of 'Times.' I'm about to turn 60 and I count myself so very fortunate to have come from when I did.
Roger Moore
Yea my brother came home on leave in 68 and he turned me on to these guy's, along with a few other bands but I remember these guys for sure, and I've got the LP also. Back when music was good. But today I listen to J-Rock & J-Metal it's about the only thing I've found that I like today.
Jeff Minich
An extraordinary, iconic composition and timeless message. Peak psychedelic music, I've loved this song for over 50 years.
d gray
Music to get high by we called it!
Joseph Grosso
65 here.
Great song!
Captures feel of 1969!
Your Mother Was A Hamster
My father died recently, and I remember him saying he loved this song. This song totally fits his personality. Groove to this song in honor of my dad, dammit!