Auden grew up in Birmingham in a professional middle class family and read English literature at Christ Church, Oxford. His early poems, written in the late 1920s and early 1930s, alternated between telegraphic modern styles and fluent traditional ones, were written in an intense and dramatic tone, and established his reputation as a left-wing political poet and prophet. He became uncomfortable in this role in the later 1930s, and abandoned it after he moved to the United States in 1939, where he became an American citizen in 1946. His poems in the 1940s explored religious and ethical themes in a less dramatic manner than his earlier works, but still combined traditional forms and styles with new forms devised by Auden himself. In the 1950s and 1960s many of his poems focused on the ways in which words revealed and concealed emotions, and he took a particular interest in writing opera librettos, a form ideally suited to direct expression of strong feelings.
He was also a prolific writer of prose essays and reviews on literary, political, psychological and religious subjects, and he worked at various times on documentary films, poetic plays and other forms of performance. Throughout his career he was both controversial and influential. After his death, some of his poems, notably “Funeral Blues” (“Stop all the clocks”) and “September 1, 1939”, became widely known through films, broadcasts and popular media.
In Our Time
W. H. Auden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We have to go back in time
My time machine has to be repaired just right now
I have the spear part
And also some tools for you
But it is stolen so you have to hurry up
Before it is too late!
I am almost finished
But I can hear sirens rev
Get in and hurry
They are here and start to shoot
Turn on he engine the room begins to rotate
So we are gone now no matter what you do now
The lyrics of W.H. Auden's song "In Our Time" depict a sense of urgency and adventure. The singer starts by acknowledging the existence of a problem, which serves as the catalyst for the subsequent actions. The problem, however, requires the characters to journey back in time, emphasizing the desire to rectify or change something that has already happened. This notion of going back in time is further reinforced by the mention of the time machine needing repairs, implying that it is an essential tool for their mission.
The lyrics further reveal that the singer possesses a crucial component, the spear part, necessary for repairing the time machine. Additionally, they have brought tools for someone else to use, possibly indicating a partnership or a collective effort to fix the machine. However, a twist occurs as the spear part gets stolen, adding an element of urgency and pressure to the situation. The urgency is further underscored when the singer implores the other person to hurry in recovering the stolen part.
The subsequent verse demonstrates the importance of cooperation and teamwork. The singer acknowledges that the other person's assistance is vital in repairing the time machine before it becomes too late. This plea for help highlights the shared responsibility and dependency on each other to achieve their mutual goal.
The final verse intensifies the urgency as the singer indicates that they are almost finished repairing the time machine. The mention of sirens revving and the imminent danger of being shot suggest that time is running out, and the characters must act swiftly. The urgency peaks as they urge the other person to get into the time machine while evading the threat. The mention of the engine turning on and the room beginning to rotate creates a sense of anticipation and impending departure. The closing line, "so we are gone now no matter what you do now," conveys a finality and determination in leaving the present behind, regardless of any potential obstacles.
Overall, the lyrics of "In Our Time" emphasize the urgency and necessity of journeying back in time to resolve a problem. The narrative unfolds in a manner that heightens the sense of danger and reinforces the need for cooperation and prompt action. It is a tale of adventure, resilience, and the pursuit of a resolution, showcasing the human desire to rectify past events and alter the course of time.
Line by Line Meaning
We have a Problem
There is a serious issue we need to address
We have to go back in time
We need to travel to a previous point in history
My time machine has to be repaired just right now
At this very moment, I need to fix my time machine
I have the spear part
I possess the necessary component
And also some tools for you
Additionally, I have tools for your use
But it is stolen so you have to hurry up
Unfortunately, it has been stolen, thus requiring your urgency
This is good but you must help me to repair the time machine
Although it is fortunate, your assistance is needed for the time machine repair
Before it is too late!
We must act quickly or else we will run out of time
I am almost finished
I am nearly done
But I can hear sirens rev
However, I perceive the sound of approaching sirens
Get in and hurry
Enter the time machine swiftly
They are here and start to shoot
The threat has arrived and they commence firing
Turn on he engine the room begins to rotate
Activate the engine, causing the room to start rotating
So we are gone now no matter what you do now
Consequently, we have departed, rendering your current actions insignificant
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Felix Krickl, Jan Folkerts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind