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Born At The Right Time Lyrics
Down among the reeds and rushes
A baby boy was found
His eyes as clear as centuries
His silky hair was brown
Never been lonely
Never been lied to
Never had to scuffle in fear
Nothing denied to
Born at the instant
The church bells chime
And the whole world whispering
Born at the right time
Me and my buddies we are travelling people
We like to go down to restaurant row
Spend those Euro-dollars
All the way from Washington to Tokyo
I see them in the airport lounge
Upon their mother's breast
They follow me with open eyes
Their uninvited guest
Never been lonely
Never been lied to
Never had to scuffle in fear
Nothing denied to
Born at the instant
The church bells chime
And the whole world whispering
Born at the right time
Too many people on the bus from the airport
Too many holes in the crust of the earth
The planet groans
Every time it registers another birth
But down among the reeds and rushes
A baby girl was found
Her eyes as clear as centuries
Her silky hair was brown
Never been lonely
Never been lied to
Never had to scuffle in fear
Nothing denied to
Born at the instant
The church bells chime
And the whole world whispering
Born at the right time
A baby boy was found
His eyes as clear as centuries
His silky hair was brown
Never been lied to
Never had to scuffle in fear
Nothing denied to
Born at the instant
The church bells chime
And the whole world whispering
Born at the right time
We like to go down to restaurant row
Spend those Euro-dollars
All the way from Washington to Tokyo
I see them in the airport lounge
Upon their mother's breast
They follow me with open eyes
Their uninvited guest
Never been lied to
Never had to scuffle in fear
Nothing denied to
Born at the instant
The church bells chime
And the whole world whispering
Born at the right time
Too many holes in the crust of the earth
The planet groans
Every time it registers another birth
A baby girl was found
Her eyes as clear as centuries
Her silky hair was brown
Never had to scuffle in fear
Nothing denied to
Born at the instant
The church bells chime
And the whole world whispering
Born at the right time
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Here's a thought: The baby boy found in verse 1 is Moses. He was "born at the right time" because at no other time in history would his mother have thrown him into the river (because of the Egyptian slaughtering of Hebrew boys), and at no other time could he have been found by Egyptian royalty and raised in that family. Eventually Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt to freedom. Presumably he realized the purpose for which he was put here, and I think that is what the song is about.
The other verses talk about other children that PS sees or thinks about. He implies that his initial thought is that resources are already stretched thin, how can the earth support another child (The planet groans every time it registers another birth)? But then he remembers how Moses was put here for a reason and that each of us must also be here for a reason.
The message is: You were given life intentionally at exactly the moment the world needed you. Now go and fulfil your purpose.
@ihatemusic Wow. I came here intrigued with the lyric and found your post. Enough said.
@ihatemusic Wow. I came here intrigued with the lyric and found your post. Enough said.
I think it's about all of us being "Born at the Right Time" at the moment of our births. Who can say otherwise to a newborn in its proud parents' arms?
Then we slowly forget this as we grow up. From childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut, doctor, or movie star, we grow up to become store clekrs, shop mechanics, and bookkeepers.
As Paul Simon was "wheeling and dealing" so to speak trying to make a buck as a rock musician, he spots a baby in its mother's arms while waiting at the airport. He realizes how innocent we all once were, when all the world's love was poured upon us for our undivided attention.
wow.
OK, there is an indisputable reference to Moses in the opening couplet. However I think that overall this song is PS's take on (or response to) infancy, which is a much broader thing, encompassing innocence, potential and even demographics!
Globally we are just too many people and nee to slow down the birth rates. But anyway, each new born baby should be welcomed and mean the most precious gift to us and grow up with all our support and respect.