“…Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught, or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over, thought I’d something more to say…”

© Lyrics by Roger Waters, 1973 from the album “Dark Side Of The Moon”

Another new song, this time the title track from the forthcoming album of the same name.

This one again came from the same collection of lines and ideas that have been sitting in an A4 folder and a number of notebooks over the last few years. And they’ve been collected from all over the place and the more observant of you will notice a pretty glaring Joni Mitchell one in here as well… one of my favourite tracks of hers, a heartbreakingly beautiful song called River. Its not theft (well not exactly, more of a tip of the chapeau, thats my story and I’m sticking to it, LOLZ) Very seasonal as well. And theres a line that is half borrowed as well from the late Glenn Frey, right towards the end.

The thrust of it, is as per the rest of the album; an exercise on growing older and watching the world changing around you. It also questions whether any of us put down roots on this particular journey called life, either in a physical place or whether we continue to keep the same values through our lives (Do you know where you stand/can you still stand where you stand/Will you now stand where you want to stand?)

And through the series of questions and challenges, it comes to the conclusion: There is no such thing as the perfect path. Even in living in the moment (such as like wot I try to do), events of now very quickly become yesterdays news – hence the chip paper reference, going back to the 1970s where British Chip shops used to wrap their portions in newspaper until they realised it contained lead… The “Did You Get What You Wanted? Is a Deal A Deal” line comes from Jimmy Webb’s autobiography where he said that what he wished for was to be a writer and thats what he got and he later realised that what he had asked the universe for came at a price, but because he did a deal with the universe, whatever she asked for as the price of entry, he was honour bound to pay it. Because a Deal Is A Deal.

So, what exactly does Time Demand? It demands, not to put too fine a point on it that you get your shit together to make the most of life while you have it. Many are denied the opportunity to get to the age you and I have reached, by the universe’s unseen hand at work, it is a privilege to grow old. Dont be afraid of the outside world, embrace it, be part of it to your fullest. Take control of your life as much as you can. Find that crucible for your dreams. Its all your journey now. Dont do it for someone else. Do it for you.

Again there is the first draft/lyrics only caveat at this stage. Not sure it is going to go in quite the Floyd-y direction that this post may intimate. Just so I set your expectations accordingly!

Time Demands

Getting to grow old is a blessing
Denied to so many by an unseen hand
Desire as you knew it may have walked out of your heart
But it remains in your mind
As you work out your new place in this tough and changed land
Do you know where you stand?

You’re splashing around in puddles of tears
Some frozen hard after all this time
If you dont slip over, maybe you can skate away
And put behind you all of those old fears
Can you still stand where you stand?

You should never be scared of the outside world
You can find peace by a lake under the moon
Dont worry about all those old bad ideas
They’ll be miles behind you and over very soon

Dont you worry about those old regrets
About what you didnt get to do
Take control of your own life now
Its all down to you, now
Too much too little, its all so scary
How do you find any middle ground?
Will you now stand where you want to stand?

The latest post is now yesterdays news
Yesterdays headlines now the chip paper they can no longer use
Did you get what you wanted, was a deal a deal?
Were you chasing your feelings not knowing if they were real?

You were meant to find a forge, for all of your dreams
And its time to work out now, if it is all what it seems

(Its your journey now…)

© Lyrics by Steve McCarthy-Hunt, 2025