I have waited, dined on ashes
Swung from chandeliers and climbed Everest
And none of it's got me close to this

I've waited all my life
If not now, when will I?

We've been good, even a blast, but
Don't you feel like something's missing here?
Don't you dare, ooh, ooh

I've waited all my life
If not now, when will I
Stand up and face the bright light?
Don't hide your eyes, it's time
It's time
It's time, ohh-whoa

No umbrellas, no sunglasses
Hailing hallelujah everyday

I've waited all my life
If not now, when will I
Stand up and face the bright light?
Don't hide your eyes, it's time
It's time
It's time
It's time


Lyrics submitted by abbnormal

If Not Now, When? Lyrics as written by Brandon Charles Boyd Benjamin Lee Kenney

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

If Not Now, When? song meanings
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21 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    THIS IS GONNNA BE MY IN MY WEDDING SONG....it reminds me of engagement

    wachamakuliton June 02, 2011   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    I agree with most of the comments above. This is a fascinating band who has evolved as they have aged. I think the song simply refers to taking that chance. It's incredibly uplifting. Take a chance; find what you believe in. Go forward with open eyes (no sunglasses) knowing that it might have downfalls/ pitfalls/ (no umbrellas; no safety nets). The first verse makes me think that whatever he's found is greater than all the experiences he's had leading up to this moment, and fear cannot/ should not hold him back because after all If no now when? when we will do the things that present themselves to us, but we hold back because of fear, etc. IT's a great album.

    bella57on August 15, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    From the Facebook Brandon Boyd page, he writes about this song:

    "In the title track, we set the tone of the album. A stirring in the water somewhere, a long time ago, sends ripples outward. Beautifully. symmetrically, and relentlessly pulsing out, out, out. They travel countless miles and eventually arrive at shallow waters. Then the triumphant finale. The breaking wave, after gaining thousands of miles of momentum, arcs forward into the future; the wave is about to break. If not now, when? A unique event in space and time. Never to be repeated ever again. Now. Now. Now."

    bradrey3don May 13, 2011   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning

    When i listened to this song for the first time, what i got out of it was that he was singing about the sweet embrace of dying from "I've waited all my life If not now, when will I? Stand up and face the bright light Don't hide your eyes It's time"

    Perhaps someone close to him isn't doing so well? Feedback please

    Spat7on June 29, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    First To Post!!. Best Band in the world. Nice opening track!

    StarChild69on May 05, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    It's obvious that there's some sort of religious awakening present in this song. In the first verse, it's like he's saying, "I've done so much, I been higher than high, I've felt so good; none of it, though, has made me feel as good as this does."

    In the second verse, he's asks whomever, "Even though we've had all of this fun, haven't you felt like something's been missing?"

    And in the final verses, I hear words that have a biblical feel to me. "Stand up and face the bright light. Don't hide your eyes." It's as if these guys have matured so much, and have now humbled themselves to the max.

    I will always love this band.

    ejonesingon May 14, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    actual lyrics

    I have waited Dined on ashes Swung from chandeliers and climbed Everest And none of it's got me close to this

    I've waited all my life If not now, when will I?

    We've been good Even a blast, but Don't you feel like something's missing here? Don't you dare

    I've waited all my life If not now, when will I? Stand up and face the bright light Don't hide your eyes It's time

    No umbrellas No sunglasses Hailing Hallelujah everyday

    I've waited all my life If not now, when will I? Stand up and face the bright light Don't hide your eyes It's time

    wachamakuliton June 02, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    To me it's a song about like, wanting to get married, or being engaged. Like when he's saying We've been good Even a blast, but Don't you feel like something's missing here? Don't you dare

    To me that's not bad, the line about something missing. I think he's just saying like, he's ready to be married now. Or the narrator or the song is, whatever. Great song though.

    spenceriscoolon July 07, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    im sad the album doesnt come with lyrics. this song is beautiful. def a great start to the album! it gives me the same kind of trance feeling like aqueous transmission does. brandon's voice is just hypnotic... to me this song just makes me want to do everything that ive been holding back. to live life to the fullest because if not now, when will i?

    b182chicon July 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Every Incubus song is about the same thing. If you guys don't know what their whole message has been now, then I don't know..

    TotallyCluelesson July 26, 2011   Link

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