On Valley Maker’s second full-length album, Rhododendron, songwriter Austin… Read Full Bio ↴On Valley Maker’s second full-length album, Rhododendron, songwriter Austin Crane sings about movement – from one kind of belief to another, from place to place, through time. This new record from Crane, a Seattle-based musician and PhD student in Human Geography, reflects both the rootedness and rootlessness that shapes his songwriting on the precipice of his third decade. Like his noted inspirations Jason Molina, Bill Fay, and Gillian Welch before him, he speaks to the strange and transitory ways we mark time through our lives. Years pass and fold in his cosmic American songs.

Crane formed Valley Maker in 2010 with a self-titled collection of songs written for his undergrad thesis project at the University of South Carolina, tracing existential questions around biblical origin narratives, as embedded in his spiritually-infused Southern upbringing. Similar themes shade his vision on Rhododendron, which follows 2015’s When I Was A Child. Prophetic and apocalyptic language shapes Crane’s lyrics, but his outlook is not bound by dogma. Instead, he uses the metaphors of faith to explore the ineffable and to navigate the intersection of belief, time, place, and the political present. Much of the album was written leading up to the 2016 US presidential election and in the months after as Crane was traveling for his PhD research on migration, borders, and humanitarianism. Tellingly, it grapples with what it means to share space with others as popular political discourses veer towards exclusion.

Only Time
Valley Maker Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

So I call you from the side of the road in the trees
And I'm parking my car 'cause I don't know where it leads
And it's a long road back to where I've been with all my friends
And it's a long road down to where I head now with my plans
So if you could pick up
Please pick up now
And if you don't pick up
Well, don't pick up anyhow

Because i saw you the other day
You were like an old friend turning grey
And I did not know, I did not know what to say
And I saw you through the trees
You were like a wild man
What could it mean?
But i did not know, i did not know what to think
When I look in her eyes
I want to live, I want to try
I don't want to live, I don't want to die without you
I don't want to live, I don't want to die without you
And you asked me what it is I must do
And you asked me where I would drive us to
But I don't even try, I don't even try that much these days
I don't even try, I don't even try to think about it anyways
You said it's only time that I give
It's only time that goes away
Yes, it's only time
Yes, it's only time that gets in my way
So where are your thoughts?
Where is your mind?
What do you love and when will you die?
I don't really know
I don't want to go today
Where are your thoughts?
Where is your mind?
What do you love and when will you die?
I don't really know
I don't want to go today
You said it's only time that I give you
It's only time that goes away

Yes, it's only time
Yes, it's only time these days

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Valley Maker's "Only Time" explore the idea of being uncertain about the future and feeling lost in the present. The song describes the singer calling someone from the side of the road, unsure of where he's headed. As he drives down the long, winding road, he contemplates the meaning of his life and confronts his fears about what could happen if he doesn't have a particular person by his side. The singer muses that it's not about where he's been or where he's going; all that matters is that he doesn't want to live or die without this person.

The chorus repeats the phrase "It's only time that I give you / It's only time that goes away / Yes, it's only time / Yes, it's only time these days" as a reminder that time is fleeting and life is short. The song ends with the singer asking existential questions: "Where are your thoughts? / Where is your mind? / What do you love and when will you die?" He admits that he doesn't really know the answers and that all he wants is to stay where he is for a little while longer.

Overall, "Only Time" is a contemplative and introspective song about the fleeting nature of time and the importance of human connection. It's a reminder that life is unpredictable, and we can't control everything that happens to us. However, we can choose to cherish the people we love and make the most of the time we have with them.

Line by Line Meaning

So I call you from the side of the road in the trees
I'm lost and I need help finding my way back home, so I call you from a remote spot on the side of the road surrounded by trees.

And I'm parking my car 'cause I don't know where it leads
I've come to a point where I don't know where I'm headed or what my next step should be, so I park my car and try to figure things out.

And it's a long road back to where I've been with all my friends
I'm feeling nostalgic and sometimes wish I could go back to the good old days and reconnect with my old friends.

And it's a long road down to where I head now with my plans
I have some future plans, but I'm unsure and anxious about what lies ahead, and it's a long road to get there.

So if you could pick up
I hope that you're there for me and can answer my call for help.

Please pick up now
I'm desperate and need someone to talk to right now, so please answer my call.

And if you don't pick up
If you can't answer my call, I'll keep trying to find someone who can help me.

Well, don't pick up anyhow
If you're not going to be helpful, then I don't want to bother with you because I need all the support I can get in this difficult time.

Because I saw you the other day
I recently saw you and was reminded of our friendship and the good times we shared.

You were like an old friend turning grey
You seemed like an old friend who has aged and changed with time, and I am not sure how to handle the change in our relationship.

And I did not know, I did not know what to say
I am at a loss for words and not sure how to react to the changes that have occurred in our friendship over time.

And I saw you through the trees
I caught a glimpse of you through the foliage, and the mystery of not being able to see you clearly adds to my anxiety and confusion.

You were like a wild man
You seemed wild and unpredictable, and I was unsure of how to approach you.

What could it mean?
I am puzzled by your behavior and not sure what to make of it.

But I did not know, I did not know what to think
I am uncertain about my feelings and thoughts, and the situation is confusing and complicated for me.

When I look in her eyes
When I gaze into my partner's eyes, I feel alive and hopeful.

I want to live, I want to try
I am inspired to live life to the fullest and take risks when I am with my partner.

I don't want to live, I don't want to die without you
I cannot imagine living or dying without my partner by my side, and they are an essential part of my life.

And you asked me what it is I must do
You are trying to support me and help me find my way forward, asking me about what goals and plans I have for the future.

And you asked me where I would drive us to
You want to know where I am headed so that you can join me and be a part of my journey.

But I don't even try, I don't even try that much these days
I am feeling unmotivated and lacking direction, and it is hard for me to make an effort to think or plan for the future.

I don't even try, I don't even try to think about it anyways
I am struggling to focus my thoughts on the future or make any decisions, and it feels overwhelming and pointless.

You said it's only time that I give
You remind me that time is a valuable resource and that how I choose to spend it is up to me.

It's only time that goes away
Time is fleeting, and it is important to use it wisely because once it is gone, it can never be regained.

Yes, it's only time
Time is an essential component of life and influences how we choose to live it.

Yes, it's only time that gets in my way
The pressure of time can be overwhelming and interfere with one's ability to make important decisions or take meaningful actions.

So where are your thoughts?
You challenge me to examine my own thoughts and feelings about my current situation.

Where is your mind?
You want me to focus my attention and consider what is truly important to me.

What do you love and when will you die?
You ask a fundamental question of what gives life meaning and purpose and when our time on earth will end.

I don't really know
I am unsure about what I truly value and what my purpose is in life.

I don't want to go today
I am hesitant to move forward and face the uncertainty of the future.

You said it's only time that I give you
You remind me that giving of oneself is a valuable gift and that time is the most precious thing I can offer.

It's only time that goes away
You emphasize that time is fleeting and that it is important to cherish and make the most of every moment.

Yes, it's only time
Time is an integral part of life and shapes our experiences and choices.

Yes, it's only time these days
In the present moment, time seems to be all-consuming and ever-present, an unrelenting force that affects everything we do and feel.

Writer(s): Jonathan Crane

Contributed by Aubrey I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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