(Verse 1) Time, flowing like a riverTime, beckoning meWho knows when we shall meet againIf everBut time keeps flowing like a riverTo the sea
Released in 1981, "" remains one of the most poignant and ethereal ballads in the progressive rock canon. While The Alan Parsons Project was often known for complex concept albums and intricate studio production, this track stripped away the layers to reveal a raw, universal truth: the relentless and irreversible flow of our lives. A Breakthrough Performance Time by The Alan Parsons Project w/ Lyrics
(Chorus) Goodbye my love, maybe for foreverGoodbye my love, the tide waits for meWho knows when we shall meet againIf everBut time keeps flowing like a river (on and on)To the sea, to the sea (Verse 2) Till it's gone foreverGone forevermore (Verse 1) Time, flowing like a riverTime, beckoning
"Time" is a significant milestone for the group as it featured the first-ever lead vocal by co-founder and songwriter . Before this, Woolfson primarily wrote the material and sang guide vocals for other vocalists. Alan Parsons initially resisted the idea of Woolfson singing, but later admitted he had "misjudged" his partner's talent, noting that the song's massive vocal range made it exceptionally difficult to perform. The Meaning Behind the Lyrics Before this, Woolfson primarily wrote the material and
Appearing on the gambling-themed concept album (1980), the song serves as a meditation on the risks we take with the hours we are given. The lyrics use the powerful metaphor of a river flowing to the sea to illustrate how moments, once passed, are "gone forever".
Woolfson himself once remarked that the song could be interpreted through many lenses—from an ancient sea captain embarking on a dangerous voyage to a modern astronaut venturing into the unknown.
(Chorus) Goodbye my love, maybe for foreverGoodbye my love, the tide waits for meWho knows when we shall meet againIf everBut time keeps flowing like a river (on and on)To the sea, to the sea