(Hold it now)
(Wait a minute)
(Come on! whew)
Just let me catch my breath
I've heard the promises
I've seen the mistakes
I've had my fair share of tough breaks
I need a new voice, a new law, a new way
Take the time, reevaluate
It's time to pick up the pieces
Go back to square one
I think it's time for a change

There is something that I feel
To be something that is real
I feel the heat within my mind
And craft new changes with my eyes
Giving freely wandering promises
A place with decisions I'll fashion
I won't waste another breath

You can feel the waves coming on
(It's time to take the time)
Let them destroy you or carry you on
(It's time to take the time)
You're fighting the weight of the world
But no one can save you this time
Close your eyes
You can find all you need in your mind

The unbroken spirit obscured and disquiet
Finds clearness this trial demands
And at the end of this day sighs an anxious relief
For the fortune lies still in his hands
If there's a pensive fear, a wasted year
A man must learn to cope
If his obsession's real
Suppression that he feels must turn to hope

Life is no more assuring than love
(It's time to take the time)
There are no answers from voices above
(It's time to take the time)
You're fighting the weight of the world
And no one can save you this time
Close your eyes
You can find all you need in your mind

I close my eyes
And feel the water rise around me
Drown the beat of time
Let my senses fall away
I can see much clearer now I'm blind

(Ora che ho perso la vista)
(Ci vedo di piu)

You can feel the waves coming on
(It's time to take the time)
Let them destroy you or carry you on
(It's time to take the time)
You're fighting the weight of the world
But no one can save you this time
Close your eyes
You can find all you need in your mind

Find all you need in your mind
If you take the time
Find all you need in your mind
If you take the time


Lyrics submitted by Idan, edited by Bonfi95

Take The Time Lyrics as written by John Petrucci John Myung

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Take the Time song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • +3
    General CommentAs said by Mike Portnoy : "We decided to write a song about everything we'd been going through for the past three years - looking for a new singer, a new label & new management - just all the changes we made & all the frustrations we went through...but, have it coming from each of our four different perspectives. So, we broke it up, and said 'Okay, you take the 1st verse, you take the 2nd verse,' went away, wrote lyrics about our feelings about all the stuff we were going through, and then put it together. Then [we] wrote the chorus together. That was the 1st time we had ever done that, and it's the only song on the album where the lyrics were actually written by everybody."
    Idanon February 23, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General CommentI'll take a stab at who wrote what.

    First verse Mike Portnoy.

    Just let me catch my breath
    I've heard the promises
    I've seen the mistakes
    I've had my fair share of tough breaks
    I need a new voice, a new law, a new way
    Take the time, reevaluate
    It's time to pick up the pieces
    Go back to square one
    I think it's time for a change

    Very staccato, repetitive, aggressive. Very Portnoy.


    Second verse John Petrucci.

    There is someting that I feel
    To be something that is real
    I feel the heat within my mind
    And craft new changes with my eyes
    Giving freely wandering promises
    A place with decisions I'll fashion
    I won't waste another breath

    He tends to write these dreamy obscure lyrics. This fits the bill.


    Third verse definitely Kevin Moore.

    The unbroken spirit
    Obscured and disquiet
    Finds clearness this trial demands
    And at the end of this day sighs an anxious relief
    For the fortune lies still in his hands

    If there's a pensive fear, a wasted year
    A man must learn to cope
    If his obsession's real
    Suppression that he feels must turn to hope

    The best lyricist in the band (and one of my favorites of all time) he writes these beautiful little pieces full of emotion and cleverly worded. For an example from roughly the same time period, see "Only A Matter of Time."


    Any doubt that this is John Myung?

    I close my eyes
    And feel the water rise around me
    Drown the beat of time
    Let my senses fall away
    I can see much clearer now I'm blind

    Mystical, water imagery. Just check "Lifting Shadows Off a Dream" if you doubt it.


    The chorus could have been written by any of them, my guess is Moore or Petrucci.

    One of the very best Dream Theater songs.
    karmakgbon January 26, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General CommentGreat song,the best on the album.Myung has some class bass parts,stealing the show as he so regularly does.
    Razormasticatoron April 09, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment"If there's a pensive fear, a wasted year
    A man must learn to cope
    If his obsession's real
    Suppression that he feels must turn to hope "

    Best line.

    This song, to me, is about letting go, and not taking it all so serious. Reflecting, and just enjoying it, let the "Waves destroy you" go with the flow is baisically the theme to me.
    owaon November 28, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song reminds me of Oedipus Rex; a prophet tells King Oedipus that he is the reason his people are suffering, and Oedipus accuses him of being a liar. A series event make it clear to Oedipus that the prophesies and in shameful repent the king guages his eyes out, blinding himself. After he's done that, however, he becomes a prophet himself. "I can see much clearer now I'm blind."

    I'm pretty sure Petrucci was a Greek mythology nut too.
    ani616on January 26, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment"Life is no more assuring than love
    (It's time to take the time)
    There are no answers from voices above
    (It's time to take the time)
    Youre fighting the weight of the world
    And no one can save you this time
    Close your eyes
    You can find all you need in your mind"


    That would have to be my favorite line

    Anyways this is my favorite song in the world I just love the work on it and everything and what it means to me is what it says just take the time because you will find all you need in your mind just slow down and think things over no need to rush yourself in life
    DT0wnzon January 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment''You can find all you need in your mind'' - i swear this is one of the most uplifting songs ive ever heard. Had a shit day week month listen to this song and if you can be in a shit mood for the length of the song then theres no hope :)
    Upintheskyon March 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentwell, there's hope. try BNL's light up my room.

    But, anyway, this is an amazing song, regardless.
    T_D_Phoenixon March 31, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI love this song. its one of my favorite songs. when ever i listen to it it just makes me happy. i just think that its a song to lift the spirits.
    Majesty|Ytse Jamon April 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentany idea who wrote each part? just curious
    muffinorwakon May 22, 2007   Link

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