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The Clock Was Tickin' Lyrics
A teacher had you write a letter, you were eight years old
About the man that you'd become and the positions you'd hold
But this was long before you and Jackie Jaronimo met
In the Prelude Park at midnight
Now when it came to bells and whistles, Jackie did not lack
And when she kissed you on the kisser, boy, you kissed her back
Now you tell her that you love her
And she cuts you slack when you drink with your buddies on the weekend
And the weeks fly by and the years roll on
You spend your whole life dropping nickles in the bucket
Waking up at dawn
And while Jackie bestowed the joys of fingerlickin'
That clock up on the wall was a tickin'
You got yourself a job cleaning hospital floors
While Jackie had a baby and she had five more
They pay you just enough to drag your ass to the store
To buy bread, milk and better homes and gardens
Jackie flips the pages and she dreams little dreams
A cottage in the country built with real wood beams
There's a baby in the bedroom, he's starting to scream
She holds him, though he probably won't remember
And the weeks fly by and the years roll on
Sometimes dreams are all you've got
To keep you going when the day gets long
And you gave up so many just to make a living
That clock up on the wall was a tickin'
Now the kids were all grateful when they left the nest
And Jackie wasn't perfect but she did her best
You seize the opportunity to get you some rest
But you can't sleep on account of screaming grandkids
The golden years are meant to leave a gleam in your eye
You're starting to discover it's a great big lie
They work you like a dog 'til you quit or you die
But you can't quit 'cause Jackie needs the benefits
And the weeks fly by and the years roll on
They say patience is a virtue
But the doctor says she don't have long
You stood up and tried your damndest not to listen
But that clock up on the wall was a tickin'
When they told you to clear the room, that's when it hit ya
You watched as a caravan took your sweetheart away
The arguments and fights and money troubles seem so worthless as,
As the kids throw yellow roses on her grave
And the weeks fly by and the years roll on
The house is quiet now and everything inside it seems to know she's gone
There's a picture of you both, sixteen years old, just kissin'
And that clock up on the wall was a tickin'
You always thought you had a chance
That there was somewhere hid
And now you've come to the conclusion that you never did
Have a chance, that is
About the man that you'd become and the positions you'd hold
But this was long before you and Jackie Jaronimo met
In the Prelude Park at midnight
Now when it came to bells and whistles, Jackie did not lack
And when she kissed you on the kisser, boy, you kissed her back
Now you tell her that you love her
And she cuts you slack when you drink with your buddies on the weekend
You spend your whole life dropping nickles in the bucket
Waking up at dawn
And while Jackie bestowed the joys of fingerlickin'
That clock up on the wall was a tickin'
While Jackie had a baby and she had five more
They pay you just enough to drag your ass to the store
To buy bread, milk and better homes and gardens
Jackie flips the pages and she dreams little dreams
A cottage in the country built with real wood beams
There's a baby in the bedroom, he's starting to scream
She holds him, though he probably won't remember
Sometimes dreams are all you've got
To keep you going when the day gets long
And you gave up so many just to make a living
That clock up on the wall was a tickin'
And Jackie wasn't perfect but she did her best
You seize the opportunity to get you some rest
But you can't sleep on account of screaming grandkids
The golden years are meant to leave a gleam in your eye
You're starting to discover it's a great big lie
They work you like a dog 'til you quit or you die
But you can't quit 'cause Jackie needs the benefits
They say patience is a virtue
But the doctor says she don't have long
You stood up and tried your damndest not to listen
But that clock up on the wall was a tickin'
You watched as a caravan took your sweetheart away
The arguments and fights and money troubles seem so worthless as,
As the kids throw yellow roses on her grave
The house is quiet now and everything inside it seems to know she's gone
There's a picture of you both, sixteen years old, just kissin'
And that clock up on the wall was a tickin'
That there was somewhere hid
And now you've come to the conclusion that you never did
Have a chance, that is
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The melody seems upbeat, but the lyrics are so heartbreaking. It reduces an enitre life of an average person in five minutes, as if it's a summary. When your a kid, everything seems timeless, you have no worries and regrets and your a twenty four seven dreamer. Then one day, you realize half of your life is gone at the blink of an eye. We're always trying to gain something bigger and better, imagining the bigger picture and an improvement here and there.. we always live for tomorrow, and we may sometimes realize it when it's too late. "When they told you to clear the room, that's when it hit you You watched as a caravan took your sweetheart away The arguments and the fights and money troubles seem so worthless as As the kids throw yellow roses on her grave" It sounds cliche, but I think this song is golden. It makes you realize that you really should make the most of this limited life :(
I've never posted on here before. I lost my grandmother last summer. She was the mom of 6 kids and literally every line in this song spoke to me. My first time listening, I was waiting for the song to finish in my car before I went into work, happy-upbeat....and then "when they told you to clear the room" Hit me like a ton of bricks. I havent had a song do that to me in a really long time. I broke down in my car. I can see how this song may not fit the theme of "Flamingo" but I also couldn't believe it didn't make it on the album. I highly advise those who purchase to get the deluxe version...some of the best tracks are the added 4!
This is definitely about Brandon's parents, and listening to it just breaks my heart.
Brandon is the youngest of 6 children, so I think the line:
"There's a baby in the bedroom, he's starting to scream She holds him, though he probably won't remember"
Is talking about him, kinda making a reference to himself.
The line:
"But you can't sleep on the account of screaming grandkids"
Is referring to the fact that she had 20 grandchildren! (21st on it's way~ Brandon's Wife is Prego again!)
Anyway, this is my absolute favorite song from this album. Almost better than "A Dustland Fairytale"
Beautiful song about his mom and family. His parents were high school sweet hearts. They moved out of vegas when he was young cause of a job I think his dad took, and they didnt really want to raise kids in Sin City. That's why I left too. They moved to Utah, where Jackie prob dreamt of a cottage in the country. I also cry when the song slows down, "and we watched as the caravan took your sweetheart away." I love that it's upbeat too, she must have been a wonderful mom and person to have a son...
Beautiful song about his mom and family. His parents were high school sweet hearts. They moved out of vegas when he was young cause of a job I think his dad took, and they didnt really want to raise kids in Sin City. That's why I left too. They moved to Utah, where Jackie prob dreamt of a cottage in the country. I also cry when the song slows down, "and we watched as the caravan took your sweetheart away." I love that it's upbeat too, she must have been a wonderful mom and person to have a son write such an incredible, emotional, breath taking song like this.
This is what I hear: "...bells and whistles, Jackie did not lack" "And while Jackie bestowed the joys of fingerlickin'"
This song absolutely breaks my heart. "The house is quiet now..." part makes me cry every time I hear it. Even more sad is when them kissing as sixteen year olds is followed by the clock ticking.
It's kind of hard to imagine that it isn't about his mom. I'm pretty sure people called her Jeannie. Jackie Geronimo sounds an awful lot like Jeannie Barlow. I feel super creepy for knowing her maiden name. lol
I love the Better Homes & Gardens reference. My mom always had one of those in her hands when I was growing up.
Corrected!
Corrected!
My favorite song on the record. Reminds me of Disney Pixar's "Up".
Someone should make a video of that. Add clips of the movie and this song.
Someone should make a video of that. Add clips of the movie and this song.
Yeah this is probably my favorite song on the album... Reminds me of "cat's in the cradle," by Harry Chapin.
I really think this has to be about his mom.
Gorgeous song!!!!
This song is about his mother, yes. I went to see Brandon Flowers in concert in Atlantic City. He said it was a song through his father's eyes.. It's so sad.. I love this song, even though I cry every time it gets to the end.. You can really feel the emotion in his voice... Definitely one of Brandon Flower's best..
This song totally has an Eagles/Johnny Cash feel to it.
what an incredible song that always either gives me goosebumps or tears.