Chandra and Leigh were born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, but moved to Silverlake, California in the late 1990s, where they were founding members of and backup singers for local band Slydell. They also began writing their own music and performing with other musicians, including Orphan Train, Joe Firstman, Fairchild, and Rilo Kiley and their singer Jenny Lewis.
In 2006 the Watson Twins released their debut EP, Southern Manners, almost simultaneously with Rabbit Fur Coat, their collaboration under the name Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins. The Watson Twins had previously been known as Black Swan before changing their name to accompany their album with Jenny Lewis.
Time of My Life
The Watson Twins Lyrics
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Long ago seem
Crystal hymns and songs I've never known
Where ivy grows and stone gives way
A locket lost and a love that faded away
The broken hearts are soon to mend and
Every scar of streets and where I've been
Let it all begin again (x2)
Like the sweetest nectar
The softest breeze
My heart it melts with all the beauty it sees
And highway diamonds lead to empty skies
Our fears dissolve in every silent car ride
Where wonder holds are turned so tight
Hearts ablaze our only ray of light
The time of my life (x4)
Let it all begin again
The time of my life (x9)
The Watson Twins's song "Time of My Life" is a nostalgic reflection on youth and the memories that come with it. The first verse begins with the singer recalling the sound of bells, likely from a church or some other place of worship. These bells are described as "crystal hymns and songs [they've] never known," indicating a sense of awe and wonder at something unfamiliar yet beautiful. The image of ivy growing on stone evokes a sense of timeless beauty, while the lost locket and faded love speak to the inevitable passing of time and the things that are lost along the way. However, even broken hearts are said to be soon mended, giving hope that new love and new memories can be made.
The second verse continues the theme of beauty and wonder, using images of nectar and soft breezes to create a sense of delicate, fleeting beauty. Yet, there is also a hint of melancholy here, as the singer notes that "highway diamonds lead to empty skies" and that fears dissolve in silent car rides. These lines suggest a sense of loneliness or disconnection, even amid the beauty and wonder of the world.
The chorus repeats the phrase "the time of my life" multiple times, emphasizing the nostalgia and longing for a time that has passed. However, the final line adds a sense of hope and possibility, as the singer declares, "let it all begin again."
Overall, "Time of My Life" is a poignant reflection on the beauty and pain of youth, and the sense of longing that comes with remembering it.
Line by Line Meaning
Bells i heard so
I still remember the bells that I heard a long time ago
Long ago seem
The memories of the past feel so distant now
Crystal hymns and songs I've never known
The music that played back then was so pure and unfamiliar to me
Where ivy grows and stone gives way
Nature takes over where man-made things crumble
A locket lost and a love that faded away
I lost a precious object and a love that eventually vanished
The broken hearts are soon to mend and
Time heals all wounds and broken hearts can recover
Every scar of streets and where I've been
I have scars from the places I've traveled and the streets I've walked
Like the sweetest nectar
The beauty of life is intoxicating
The softest breeze
Life's gentle moments are its most precious
My heart it melts with all the beauty it sees
The beauty of life warms my heart like nothing else
And highway diamonds lead to empty skies
The glamour of the road often leads to emptiness
Our fears dissolve in every silent car ride
We find peace in moments of silence while we travel
Where wonder holds are turned so tight
We hold on tightly to moments of awe and wonder
Hearts ablaze our only ray of light
Love is the only true source of light in a sometimes dark world
The time of my life (x4)
This is the best time of my life, and I want to relive it again and again
Let it all begin again (x2)
I want to start my life over, to experience everything anew
The time of my life (x9)
This moment is truly special and I want to hold on to it forever
Contributed by Dominic E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.