Rhythm guitarist Dave Pritchard, bass guitarist Greg Masters and drummer Roger Spencer were the core of a band initally known as Billy King and the Nightriders, then later known as Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders and briefly as just The Nightriders.
In 1966 they advertised for a new guitarist/vocalist, Jeff Lynne applied and joined the band. After releasing one single they changed their name to Idle Race. Under Jeff Lynne's leadership they released two albums that sold poorly, despite support from John Peel and Kenny Everett.
In 1970, Jeff Lynne decided to join The Move so he and Roy Wood could work on what would eventually become Electric Light Orchestra
The remaining members of The Idle Race recruited 2 new members and released one further album. After Greg Masters left the group they became The Steve Gibbons Band.
The Clock
The Idle Race Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Time to go,
But I don't want to know,
About the clock on the wall
Your friends will talk
My friends will talk
They, all will talk,
About all their small talk
I just care for you
And there's nothing, nothing
Anyone can do
Tick tock around the clock
The, hands won't stop,
But I don't care,
I don't care at all
I just care for you
And there's nothing, nothing
Anyone can do
The hands keep going all the time,
And I keep wishing you'd be mine
They'll wonder if
And what and why
And, where we've been,
And what went on,
I couldn't stay too long
I just care for you
And there's nothing, nothing
Anyone can do
I just care for you
And there's nothing, nothing
Anyone can do
I just care for you
And there's nothing, nothing
Anyone can do
I just care for you
And there's nothing, nothing
Anyone can do
The Idle Race's song "The Clock" is a love ballad that speaks to the timeless sentiment of affection. The lyrics suggest that the singer might be reluctant to leave, but is equally unfazed by the clock's insistence on ticking by. The clock's ticking is juxtaposed against what the singer really cares for, which is their heart connection with the person they love. The song's meaning can be interpreted as a message to people who want to be present in their relationship, rather than worrying about schedules and external factors. The clock is a metaphor for time itself, and how it can distract us from what we really value and cherish.
The repetition of "I just care for you" throughout the song emphasizes the depth of the singer's feelings. They don't care about anything else, but the love they share with the other person. The song's structure is designed in a way that accentuates this idea, with the lines "The hands keep going all the time, / And I keep wishing you'd be mine" situated in the middle of the song, symbolizing the continuous passing of time and the singer's longing for a stable relationship that transcends it.
Overall, "The Clock" is a classic 60s love ballad, both musically and lyrically. The song's melody is reminiscent of the era's signature sound, with a simple structure that allows for the lyrics to take center stage. Lyrically, it captures the essence of young love that's uncompromising and persistent in the face of time and external pressures.
Line by Line Meaning
The clock on the wall tell's me it's,
The wall clock is reminding me that it's time to go
Time to go,
It's time for me to leave
But I don't want to know,
I don't want to be bothered by the thought of leaving
About the clock on the wall
I don't want to pay attention to the wall clock telling me to go
Your friends will talk
Your friends will have something to say
My friends will talk
My friends will also have something to say
They, all will talk,
Everyone will have something to gossip about
But I don't give a damn,
I don't care at all about their gossip
About all their small talk
I don't want to hear their idle conversation
Tick tock around the clock
The clock is ticking non-stop
The, hands won't stop,
The clock's hands won't cease moving
But I don't care,
It doesn't bother me
I don't care at all
I'm not concerned about it
The hands keep going all the time,
The hands on the clock keeps moving constantly
And I keep wishing you'd be mine
I still want you to be mine
They'll wonder if
People will speculate on
And what and why
Analyzing what's going on between us and why
And, where we've been,
And where we have been seen together
And what went on,
And what did we do and talk about
I couldn't stay too long
I couldn't stay for long because I have to leave
I just care for you
I only have feelings for you
And there's nothing, nothing
I cannot be influenced by anyone or anything
Anyone can do
No one can change my feelings towards you
Contributed by Lucas D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.