The band, fronted by Mary Davis, was initially famous for the hit "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" in 1980. In 1983, they joined forces with then new production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who went on to craft a string of R&B hits for the group, including "Just Be Good to Me," "Tell Me If You Still Care," "Borrowed Love," "No One's Gonna Love You," "Just the Way You Like It," and "The Finest".
The Jam-Lewis-produced SOS Band hits are notable for popularizing the use of the Roland TR-808 drum machine (and its distinctive cowbell sound) in popular music. The group continues to tour and perform to this day.
The song "Just Be Good to Me" was covered by Beats International (aka Norman Cook or Fatboy Slim); the resultant song made its way to UK number one single as "Dub Be Good to Me." The song was reworked with the bass line of The Clash's "Guns of Brixton." It was also covered by Shayne Ward on his album, Breathless. Also, the song "Tell Me If You Still Care" was covered in 1995 by fellow Atlanta native Monica on her debut album Miss Thang and sampled by Janet Jackson in her hit "Call On Me. The Bingoboys performed a cover of "Borrowed Love" as the follow-up single to their 1991 dance hit "How to Dance."
Lead vocalist Mary Davis left the group in 1987 to pursue a solo career, and was replaced by Chandra Currelley beginning with the band's 1989 Diamonds in the Raw album. More recently, Currelley has been active as an actress and vocalist in Tyler Perry plays and films. When Davis’s solo career was not a successful as hoped, she reunited with the band in 1994.
Sands of Time
The S.O.S. Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The weeks turn into months
And I'm still alone
Wondering when I'll see you
Still I watch the hourglass
The symbol of our love
When we were so sure
What changed your mind
We are the sands of time
Only sands of time
Don't ever run out on me
Time is loneliness
When you're not around
But I continue
Turnin' the hourglass upside till I see you
And whatever life brings my way
I'm always gonna know one thing
With you I'll always share all my love
Nothing can change it because we're bound by the sands of time
I won't change my mind
(No, I won't)
We are the sands of time
Only sands of time
(Ooh, baby)
Don't ever run out on me
Thought time had run out
I almost hope
(No, don't)
It's hard to keep the faith
Oh, but if you believe
You can make almost anything you ever want come true
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
And I'll wait for you, baby
(You know I want you, baby)
And if we believe, it will only come true
(Mmm, mmm)
I won't change my mind
(It's so lonely when you're not around)
We are the sands of time
(Turn the hourglass upside down)
Only sands of time
(We won't ever, never, never)
Don't ever run out on me
(Hoo, hoo, hoo)
I won't change my mind
(Oh, oh, oh)
We are the sands of time
(Bound by the sand of time)
Only sands of time
(The sands of time)
Don't ever run out on me
Believe we always come together in the sands of time
The lyrics to "Sands of Time" by The S.O.S. Band express the anguish and yearning of a lover who is separated from their beloved. The passage of time is the central metaphor in this song, as the singer watches the sand in the hourglass trickle away, wondering when they will be reunited with their love. The sands of time also represent the fragility and impermanence of love. At one point, the singer asks, "What changed your mind?," suggesting that their beloved may have lost faith in their relationship or had a change of heart. Despite this uncertainty, the singer remains resolute, declaring that they will wait for their love and that their affection is bound by the sands of time.
The song is infused with a sense of hope and optimism, as the singer insists that if they believe in their love, anything can come true. This sentiment is echoed in the chorus, where the singer proclaims, "We are the sands of time, only sands of time, don't ever run out on me." Here, the sands of time are a symbol of the enduring nature of their love and the belief that their passion will overcome any obstacles. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer asserting that they will always come together in the sands of time, no matter what.
Overall, "Sands of Time" is a poignant and heartfelt song about the enduring power of love and the importance of perseverance and faith in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Hours pass
Time passes by
The weeks turn into months
Time moves slowly and steadily
And I'm still alone
The singer is lonely
Wondering when I'll see you
The singer is looking forward to meeting someone special
Still I watch the hourglass
The singer spends time waiting
The symbol of our love
The hourglass is a reminder of their love
When we were so sure
They were once confident about their love
Our love would be everlasting
They thought their love would last forever
What changed your mind
The singer is questioning what caused a change in their partner's feelings
We are the sands of time
Their relationship is like the sands of time, constantly moving and changing
Only sands of time
Their relationship is fragile, like sand slipping through their fingers
Don't ever run out on me
The singer is asking their partner to not give up on the relationship
Time is loneliness
Without their partner, time feels empty and lonely
When you're not around
The singer misses their partner
But I continue
Despite the loneliness, the singer persists
Turnin' the hourglass upside till I see you
The singer is waiting patiently for their partner to return
And whatever life brings my way
No matter what happens in life
I'm always gonna know one thing
The singer is certain about one thing
With you I'll always share all my love
The singer will always love their partner
Nothing can change it because we're bound by the sands of time
Their love will endure despite the challenges they face
I won't change my mind
The singer is committed to the relationship
(No, I won't)
Thought time had run out
The singer feared the relationship was over
I almost hope
The singer almost wished for a different outcome
(No, don't)
It's hard to keep the faith
Maintaining hope is difficult
Oh, but if you believe
Positive thinking can make a difference
You can make almost anything you ever want come true
Believing in something strongly enough can make it happen
And I'll wait for you, baby
The singer will wait for their partner to return
(You know I want you, baby)
And if we believe, it will only come true
Believing in their love will make it stronger
(Mmm, mmm)
(Oh, oh, oh)
Bound by the sand of time
Their relationship is tied to the passage of time
(The sands of time)
Don't ever run out on me
The singer is begging their partner to stay
(Hoo, hoo, hoo)
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES HARRIS III, JAMES SAMUEL III HARRIS, TERRY LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
marisdad2412
One of the best R&B albums ever recorded. This is my favorite SOS band song. I had this and Zagora on endless shuffle.
vEL
are u fn crazy boa? dis aint rnb...
Anthony Moore
@vEL What genre is "dis" then boa?
Know Bodies Full
This song reminds me of where I was at the time of its release, and I compare my life then to the life I'm living now, and how far I have gone.
V Mack
Great song, I love the music score and lyrics
Tessa Hobden
Such a brilliant time, SOS band quality
Will Scott
My favorite song ever
Pedras Negras Djmilenios
QUERIA MUITO TODOS OS TRACKS DE TODOS OS ALBIUNS DESSA GRANDE BANDA
Segawa Peterkenyon
SOS band is so amazing the entire album is a blast just hear the lead singer thnks for uploading still rocking in 2023
Ray Murray
The best album of all time