Polished my shoes I bought a brand new hat
Moved to a town that time forgot
Where I don't have to shave or be approachable
No I can do just what I want

I want to walk in that howling wind
'til it scatters all my thoughts
Sit alone on that riverbank 'til I
Forget that I can talk
Just listen

They say everyone has a choice to make
To be loved or to be free
I told you once I felt invisible
And I'm sure by now you see

What I meant is I'm not all there
Until I finally leave
Some loneliness is acceptable
And some's just outright mean
It gets even

Ivy crawls up the garden wall
Builds a ladder towards the sky
Can't be climbed but whose gonna mind
If I claim it can be done
Illusion

And the sun goes down
And the stars come out
In the distance that I felt I can see it for myself now

Boarding a train to take my memories back
Make up for time that I have lost
I'll never know if I'm delusional
I just believe that I am not
I'm going to work for my sanity
Give it everything I got
Though so far I have cheated death
I know someday I'll get caught
Just living

So here we go man it's beautiful
Get your trumpet get your drum
Keep in time in a second line
It can make you feel so young

I know you say you'll go all the way
But that's not quite far enough
Someone told me that same thing
Some told me that same thing
Someone told me that exact same thing once


Lyrics submitted by splitintwo

Time Forgot Lyrics as written by Conor M. Oberst

Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Time Forgot song meanings
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    General Comment

    First of all, i'm pretty sure he says builds a ladder towards the "sun" not "sky" That's what it sounds like, plus "sun" rhymes with "done".

    I love this song but to really enjoy it, you have to youtube the tiny desk version. It's the opening song.

    I'm convinced he's describing how he once fell in love.

    I know you say you'll go all the way But that's not quite far enough Someone told me that same thing Some told me that same thing Someone told me that exact same thing once

    ....but even though he was willing to do anything for her, she broke his heart. -So now he makes himself unavailable to love again - while still pretending to be available - see the verse about the ivy growing up the garden wall.

    ivy crawls up the garden wall builds a ladder towards the sun it cant be climbed but who's gunna mind if i say it can be done.

    Basically hes leading women on and keeping them around just to combat loneliness while still remaining free.

    They say everyone has a choice to make To be loved or to be free I told you once I felt invisible And I'm sure by now you see

    What I meant is I'm not all there Until I finally leave Some loneliness is acceptable And some's just outright mean It gets even

    In "road to joy" he also references keeping a woman and drugs around to fight off loneliness,

    Great great song but again, please watch the tiny desk video to really appreciate.

    [Edit: Typos]
    frogger6on September 12, 2016   Link

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