ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA


Time

(1981)



Commentary & track-by-track notes by Jeff Lynne:

TIME:

"This was one of them concept ideas. It was about time travel, so it's supposed to be all futuristic and daft. None of these ideas have been disproved yet, and only another ninety-odd years to go to see if I was right !"

1. Prologue 1'16

(Jeff Lynne)
"Vocoder again."
2. Twilight 3'42
(Jeff Lynne)
"I really like 'twilight' as a recording, and it's got good strong chords and goes to some strange places."
3. Yours Truly, 2095 3'12
(Jeff Lynne)
"Typical, it's about a block who fails for a robot. Say no more."
4. Ticket To The Moon 4'07
(Jeff Lynne)
"Drama in space."
5. Way Life's Meant To Be 4'39
(Jeff Lynne)
"Tried out a few studios around Europe, and recorded this song in each one."
6. Another Heart Breaks 3'49
(Jeff Lynne)
"An instrumental. I used an OBERHEIM Synthesizer to try to sound like a guitar. This was definitely the time when syntesizers were taking over."
7. Rain Is Falling 3'56
(Jeff Lynne)
"I think it's about some scientists trying to mess about with time. But it's quite a nice tune."
8. From The End Of The World 3'16
(Jeff Lynne)
"There goes the four to the bar again. It's got very strange chords."
9. Lights Go Down 3'34
(Jeff Lynne)
"I guess the lights went down."
10. Here Is The News 3'50
(Jeff Lynne)
"This was quite bold at the time, lots of radio stations phoned up and said 'you' ve nicked those news items from our station.' Oh yeah right. Actually, they were all made up in the studio, which was a lot of fun."
11. 21st Century Man 4'03
(Jeff Lynne)
"About someone who is lost."
12. Hold on Tight 3'06
(Jeff Lynne)
gs, but I do like the sound of it."
13. Epilogue 1'36
(Jeff Lynne)
"A little reminder of what it's all about. Then a bit of backwards."

Bonus Tracks

14. The Bouncher 3'14
(Jeff Lynne)
B-Side of UK "Four Little Diamonds" 12" Single (ÒÀ 3869)
"This was done later in the session for Time because I needed a loud one. The background vocals were inspired by Monty Python's MOUNTIES CHOIR."
15. When Time Stood Still 3'33
(Jeff Lynne)
B-Side of "Hold On Tight" Single (Jet ZS5-02408)
"Recorded at MUSICTAND STUDIOS in Germany. Richard Tandy goes wild whith the OBERHEIM Keyboard's portamento control."
14. Julie Don't Live Here 3'42
(Jeff Lynne)
B-Side of "Twilight" 12" Single (Jet ZS5-02559)
"It's a little pop song about a girl next door who is now in another dimension."

Total Time: 54:35


  • Jeff Lynne - Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Piano, Synthesizers
  • Richard Tandy - Synthesizer, Keyboards, Vocals
  • Kelly Groucutt - Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
  • Bev Bevan - Drums, Percussion
  • Sandi - Girl's Voice on "Yours Truly, 2095"
  • Ghislaine - French Verse in "Hold On Tight"

    Produced by Jeff Lynne
    Reissue Produced by Jeff Lynne, Al Quaglieri
    Mastered by Joseph M. Palmaceio at
    SONY MUSIC STUDIOS, New York
    Representation: FRUIN / FRUIN PRODUCTIONS, Inc.
    Product Manager: Laura Grover
    Legacy A&R: Steve Berkowitz
    A&R Coordination: Patti Mathcny, Darren Salmieri
    Engineer: Mack
    Digital Remastering: Joe Gastwirt
    Packaging Manager: Jefferson Denim
    Album Coordinator - Brian Jones
    Original Artwork by Guy Fery
    Repackaging Art Direction: Christine Wilson
    Photo by Frank Griffin

    LEGACY RECORDINGS also Thanks:
    Adam Block, Richard Bowe, Stacey Boyle,
    Rob Caiger, Steve Eineag, Tim Fraser-Harding,
    Jeff Jones, Kristin Kozusko, Jeff Magid,
    and Phi! Savill

    Special Thanks To Nancy & Phil for their front room

    GIBSON, OVATION - Guitars
    YAMAHA, OBERHEIM, S.L.M., WURLITZER - Keyboards
    FENDER, GIBSON - Bass Guitar
    SLINGERLAND Drums
    ZILDJIAN Cymbals
    REMO Heads

    All Music and Lyrics by Jeff Lynne

    All Songs ©1981 EMI APRIL MUSIC Inc. (ASCAP)
    except "When Time Stood Still", Published by
    EMI BLACKWOOD MUSIC Inc. (BMI)

    Recorded at MUSICLAND STUDIOS - Munich





    1. Prologue

      Just on the border of your waking mind
      There lies... Another time
      Where darkness & light are one
      And as you tread the halls of sanity
      You feel so glad to be
      Unable to go beyond
      I have a message
      From another time ...

    2. Twilight

      The visions dancing in my mind
      The early dawn, the shades of time
      Twilight crawling through my windowpane
      Am I awake or do I dream?
      The strangest pictures I have seen
      Night is day and twilight's gone away

      With your head held high and your scarlet lies
      You came down to me from the open skies
      It's either real or it's a dream
      There's nothing that is in between...
    Chorus:

    Twilight, I only meant to stay awhile
    Twilight, I gave you time to steal my mind
    Away from me.


      Across the night I saw your face
      You disappeared without a trace
      You brought me here, but can you take me back?
      Inside the image of your light
      That now is day and once was night
      You lead me here and then you go away.
    Repeat Chorus

      (You brought me here, but can you take me back again?)

      With your head held high and your scarlet lies
      You came down to me from the open skies
    Repeat Chorus

      Twilight, I only meant to stay awhile
      Twilight, I only meant to stay awhile
      Twilight, Twilight, Twilight, Twilight.

    3. Yours Truly 2095

      2095, 2095, 2095, 2095
      I love you, sincerely
      Yours truly, yours truly...

      I sent a message to another time
      But as the days unwind, this I just can't believe
      I sent a note across another plane
      Maybe it's all a game, but this I just can't conceive.

      Can you hear me?

      I drive the very latest hovercar
      I don't know where you are
      But I miss you so much till then
      I met someone who looks a lot like you
      She does the things you do
      But she is an IBM.

      2095, 2095, 2095, 2095
      I love you, sincerely
      Yours truly, yours truly...

      She's only programmed to be very nice
      But she's as cold as ice
      Whenever I get too near
      She tells me that she likes me very much
      But when I try to touch
      She makes it all too clear.

      She is the latest in technology
      Almost mythology
      But she has a heart stone
      She has an I.Q. of 1001
      She has a jumpsuit on
      And she's also a telephone.

      2095, 2095, 2095, 2095
      I love you, sincerely
      Yours truly, yours truly...
    Chorus:

    Is that what you want? (Is it what you want ?)
    Is it what you really want? (Is it what you really want ?)
    Is that what you want? (Is it what you want ?)
    Is it what you really want ?


      I realize that it must seem so strange
      That time has rearranged
      But time has the final word
      She knows I think of you, she reads my mind
      She tries to be unkind
      She knows nothing of our world

      Although her memory banks overflow
      No one would ever know
      For all she says: "Is that what you want?"
      Maybe one day I'll feel her cold embrace
      And kiss her interface
      'Til then, I'll leave her alone.

      I love you, sincerely
      Yours truly, yours truly...
    Repeat Chorus

      "Is that what you want ?"

    4. Ticket To The Moon

      Remember the good old 1980s?
      When things were so uncomplicated?
      I wish I could go back there again
      And everything could be the same.

      I've got a ticket to the moon
      I'll be leaving here any day soon
      Yeah, I've got a ticket to the moon
      But I'd rather see the sunrise in your eyes.

      Got a ticket to the moon
      I'll be rising high above the earth so soon
      And the tears I cry might turn into the rain
      That gently falls upon your window
      You'll never know.
    Chorus:

    Ticket to the moon (ticket to the moon)
    Ticket to the moon (ticket to the moon)
    Ticket to the moon (ticket to the moon).


      Fly, fly through a troubled sky
      Up to a new world shining bright, oh, oh.

      Flying high above
      Soaring madly through the mysteries that come
      Wondering sadly if the ways that led me here
      Could turn around and I would see you there
      Standing there (and I would see you there, waiting...)

      Ticket to the moon
      Flight leaves here today from Satellite Two
      As the minutes go by, what should I do?
      I paid the fare, what more can I say?
      It's just one way (only one way)...
    Repeat Chorus

    Repeat Chorus

    5. The Way Life's Meant To Be

      Well, I came a long way to be here today
      And I left you so long on this avenue
      And here I stand in the strangest land
      Not knowing what to say or do
      As I gaze around at these strangers in town
      I guess the only stranger is me
      And I wonder (yes, I wonder)
      Yes, I wonder (oh, I wonder)
      Is this the way life's meant to be?

      Although it's only a day since I was taken away
      And left standing here looking in wonder
      (It's your life, it's your life)
      Ah, the ground at my feet, maybe it's just the old street
      But everything that I know lies under
      (It's your life, it's your life)
      And when I see what they've done
      To this place that was home
      Shame is all that I feel
      Oh, and I wonder (oh, I wonder)
      Yes, I wonder (wonder, wonder, wonder, wonder)
      Is this the way life's meant to be?

      Too late, too late to cry
      The people say
      Too late for you, too late for me
      You've come so far, now you know everything my friend
      Look and see the wonders of our world...

      And I wonder (oh, I wonder)
      Yes, I wonder (yes, I wonder)
      Is this the way life's meant to be?

      As I wander around this wreck of a town
      Where people never speak aloud
      With its ivory towers and its plastic flowers
      I wish I was back in 1981
      Just to see your face instead of this place
      Now I know what you mean to me
      And I wonder (oh, I wonder)
      Yes, I wonder (yes, I wonder)
      Is this the way life's meant to be?

      And I wonder (oh, I wonder)
      Yes, I wonder, wonder, wonder, wonder
      Is this the way life's meant to be?
      Ooohh, I wonder
      Oh, I wonder, wonder, wonder
      Is this the way life's meant to be ?
      Oh, is this the way life's meant to be ?
      Mmmmm, is this the way life's meant to be ?
      I wanna know now
      Is this the way life's meant to be ?

    6. Another Heart Break

      Another heart breaks, another heart breaks
      Another heart breaks, another heart breaks
      Another heart breaks, another heart breaks.

    7. Rain Is Falling

      (Rain rain, go away, come again another day)

      Early in the morning
      The sun was up and the sky was very blue
      Without a warning
      As I looked out, my thoughts returned to you.
      A noise in the city made the children run
      And hide themselves away
      And thunder boomed and lightning filled the sky.

      Looking from this window
      A thousand rivers running past my door
      Standing on an island
      Looking for someone upon the shore
      I cane see it very clearly, nothing's really changed
      Then lightning strikes across an empty sky.
    Chorus:

    Ooohh, the rain is falling
    Ooohh, the rain is falling
    Ooohh, the rain is falling
    Will it wash away the lonely tears ?


      (It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring)

      With their brand new time transporter
      They'll think maybe I fought to get away
      But with all their great inventions
      And all their good intentions, here I stay
      Down on the corner where the sun had shone
      The people gathered round
      Then scattered as the raindrops hit the ground.
    Repeat Chorus

      (It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring)
    Repeat Chorus

      (It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring)
      (Rain rain, go away, come again another day)

    8. From The End Of The World

      Oh you, you're so hard to get to
      Oh you, you don't wanna play
      You were no better before
      I sent a letter before
      I sent a dream to last night
      From the end of the world.

      Oh you, you keep me hanging round & round & round & round
      Oh you, look at the trouble I've found
      You were no better before
      I sent a letter before
      I sent a dream to you last night
      From the end of the world.

      I saw you last night, but you couldn't answer
      You were a lonely little sidewalk dancer
      When I woke up I could not stand it
      You were gone, but I got to hand it to you.

      Dream to you last night
      From the end of the world.

      Oh please, if this is a game I wish someone would win
      Please, just let her fly to be upon the wind
      You were no better before
      I sent a letter before
      I sent a dream to you baby last night
      From the end of the world.

      You were no better before
      I sent a letter before
      I sent a dream to you baby last night
      From the end of the world.

      I sent a dream to you baby, last night
      From the end of the world
      I sent a dream to you, babe
      From the end of the world.

      I sent a dream...
      To you baby...
      From the end of the world.

    9. The Lights Go Down

      (The lights go down...)

      One day
      I gotta get out of here
      I gotta make everything clear
      I gotta see you, oh, oh.

      I know
      The way that I feel is wrong, so wrong
      But I gotta carry on
      When you ain't around.
    Chorus:

    I believe things are going wrong
    And the night goes on and on
    All your dreams have flown away
    And the sun won't shine today.
    The lights go down (I want you, baby)
    The lights go down (I need you, baby)
    The lights go down
    And there's no one around.


      I know
      You're waiting so close to me
      But how will you ever see
      As time rolls away?

      Lonely
      But trying to be so proud
      And just as I turn around
      The lights go down.
    Repeat Chorus

      The lights go down (I want you, baby)
      The lights go down (I need you, baby)
      The lights go down
      And there's no one around ...

    10. Here Is The News

      Here is the news
      Coming to you every hour on the hour
      (Here is the news)
      The weather's fine but there may be a meteor shower.

      Here is the news
      A cure's been found for good old rocket lag
      (Here is the news)
      Someone left their life behind in a plastic bag.

      Here is the news
      Here is the news
      Here is the news.

      ("Spaceworkers dispute in London today.
      A lightning strike by air shuttle officers
      led to over 2,000 passengers being held up
      for up to 10 hours to board flights...")

      ("Ten Eurotechnicians were today sentenced
      by the justice computer to be banished for life
      to the prison satellite Penal One...")

      Here is the news
      Another action filled adventure
      (Here is the news)
      All the worst from the world convention.

      Here is the news (the very latest)
      Here is the news
      Here is the news
      Here is the news

      ("... shares of Roboko Development are now climbing...")
      ("... a very great friend of mine...")
      ("... our regular scheduled programs...")
      ("... the latest report from the people down there...")
      ("... a tiny little detail...")
      ("... I'd like to say hello to everybody...")

      Here is the news
      I wanna go home, I want my baby back
      (Here is the news)
      I wanna go back!

      Here is the news
      Somebody has broken out of Satellite Two
      (Here is the news....)
      Look very carefully, it may be you, you, you, you...

      ("... the energy counsel today announced...")
      ("... the archbishop is waving to the crowds...")
      ("... the World Broadcasting Authority today announced...")
      ("... I think that's going to be alright, you'll have to wait & see...")
      ("... I'll call you back later...")

      Here is the news.

    11. 21st Century Man

      A penny in your pocket
      Suitcase in your hand
      They won't get you very far
      Now you're a 21st century man.

      Fly across the city
      Rise above the land
      You can do 'most anything
      Now you're a 21st century man.

      Though you ride on the wheels of tomorrow (tomorrow)
      You still wander the fields of your sorrow
      What will it bring?

      One day you're a hero
      Next day you're a clown
      There's nothing that is in between
      Now you're a 21st century man.

      You should be so happy
      You should be so glad
      So why are you so lonely
      You 21st century man?

      You stepped out of a dream
      Believing everything was gone
      Return with what you've learned
      They'll kiss the ground you walk upon.

      Things ain't how you thought they were
      Nothing have you planned
      So pick up your penny and your suitcase
      You're not a 21st century man.

      Though you ride on the wheels of tomorrow
      You still wander the fields of your sorrow (sorrow)
      Tomorrow, 21st century man
      21st century man
      21st century man ...

    12. Hold On Tight

      Hold on tight to your dream
      Hold on tight to your dream
      When you see your ship go sailing
      When you feel your heart is breaking
      Hold tight to your dream.

      It's a long time to be gone
      Time just rolls on and on
      When you need a shoulder to cry on
      When you get so sick of trying
      Just hold tight to your dream
    Chorus:

    When you get so down that you can't get up
    And you want so much but you're all out of luck
    When you're so downhearted and misunderstood
    Just over & over & over you could


      Accroches-toi a ton reve
      Accroches-toi a ton reve
      Quand tu vois ton bateau partir
      Quand tu sents -- ton coeur se briser
      Accroches-toi a ton reve.
    Repeat Chorus

      Hold on tight to your dream
      Hold on tight to your dream
      When you see the shadows falling
      When you hear that cold wind calling
      Hold on tight to your dream.

      Oh, yeah
      Hold on tight to your dream
      Yeah, hold on tight...
      To your dream.

    13. Epilogue

      You should be so happy
      You should be so glad
      21st century man.

      Though you ride on the wheels of tomorrow
      You still wander the fields of your sorrow.

      Time, time, time, time ...

    14. The Bouncer

      Do you remember, you said to me
      That you would wait, wait for me eternally
      I've been wondering, and I've been hoping
      your still the same, only you can say
      I'll be so glad to be back with you
      I'll do anything you want me to

      That's what I want, I'll be so happy, back home

      I see your light, shine in my window
      And I know I am coming home
      And as the light grows, grows ever brighter
      I see your face, you are alone
      And when I tell you all the things I have seen
      You'll say that darling you must have been dreaming

      That's what I want, I'll be so happy, back home

      Electric visions have crossed, strange decisions have crossed
      I felt the stars above me, I have someone to love me
      That's what I want, I'll be so happy, back home

      Believe me baby when I say, I wish I never, never,
      never, never, never be away
      For the things that I see, Be meant for the eyes of a time
      And when we walk alone together
      That's how I want it to be, want it to be forever

      That's what I want, I'll be so happy
      That's what I want, I'll be so happy
      That's what I want, I'd be so happy, back home

    15. When Time Stood Still

      Far beyond the things you see
      Time rolls on eternally
      Got a thing about it
      Just can't live without it

      Sitting there inside your mind
      Just waiting for the clock to chime
      On a lonely line
      Stood a lonely man

      No pictures on an empty wall
      No body there no one at all
      Just echoes in the ivory halls
      When time stood still

      Days line up outside the door
      Thought time had stopped there was no more
      Been a lonely world
      Such a lonely world

      No pictures on an empty wall
      No Toulouse, Vincent, or Pablo
      Just echoes in the ivory halls
      When time stood still

      No big machine or April showers
      No submarines no plastic flowers
      Just echoes in the ivory towers
      When time stood still

      When time stood still

      When time stood still

      When time stood still

    16. Julie Don't Live Here

      I wander through the town
      A town I knew so well but it seems so strange
      The wind blows cold
      I remember when I thought your street was paved with gold
      I walked along the street
      A street I walked along many times before
      The things have changed
      Everything I ever knew was gone or rearranged
    Chorus:

    Julie don't live here anymore
    She moved away many years before
    How can it be, this I can't believe
    Julie don't live here anymore


      I walked up to your door
      Last night I saw your face in the window
      But it was different now
      The lonely light where we used to be quite gone

      I thought about your smile
      Your laughing eyes and the things you said to me
      I felt so sorry for you
      For all the nights we spent hanging around with nothing else to do
    Chorus

    Chorus


      Julie don't live here anymore
      Julie don't live here anymore
      Julie don't live here anymore