Time Is Running Out (song)

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Muse song
Name Time Is Running Out
Album/single
Length 3:56
Alternative titles -
First live performance 29th August 2003
Latest live performance
Recorded Grouse Lodge, 2003
Writer/composer Matthew Bellamy
Producer Rich Costey[1]
Chart position 8[2]


Listen

Information

"Time Is Running Out" was first aired over BBC Radio 1 on 21st July 2003.[3]

The song is about about the emotion of a person during the last moments of the person's life, which by Bellamy's account can be applied to "society, a relationship, your religion or whatever".[4]

In a French Interview matt said: "In fact, this song is almost a kind of generality that you can apply to anything, like a relationship, I try to write songs that in General may apply to many situations. It speaks of the feeling of being cornered by someone. "Time Is Running Out" refers the fact that is trying to break this confinement or something like that.[5]

According to matt: "'Time Is Running Out' went from being a pile of cack to the grooviest, coolest song on the record."[6]

For to Dominic Howard: "Time Is Running Out can mean to change things, for example in a relationship, or how you feel towards society."[7]

Description

Matt and Dom with the wagon wheel as seen in "The Making of Absolution"

Recording

"Time Is Running Out" was one of the last songs to be written and recorded for Absolution.[8] It was influenced by Michael Jackson,[8] and went though numerous changes before a final version was decided on.[9]

According to Matt they used an electric piano that U2 used on New Year's Day, the piano was recorded and then they added effects.[5] On the Absolution "making of" dvd, the band are seeing rehearsing the song starting with the section found before the second chorus of the final track.

During the second verse, a wagon wheel being hit was synchronised with the snare drum. The wheel is a very old one that Bellamy and Howard found whilst taking a walk during the recording of Absolution.[4] Clicks and claps made by Tom Kirk and the band by clicking their fingers and clapping their hands against their laps can be heard throughout the track. A video of this clicking and clapping is on the Absolution UK bonus 'making of' DVD.

Other versions

There is an acoustic version of the song that is thought to have a different bass line. The song was covered on the 14th of May on Radio 1 by the Feeling, with some lyrical differences. A recording is available from here and here.

Live

Time is Running Out is the 2nd most performed Muse song, with Plug in Baby being first. Very few shows from 2003 and onwards exist at which Time Is Running Out wasn't played, usually being omitted at promotional gigs (post Absolution era) and by-request shows.

More here

Lyrics

I think I'm drowning

Asphyxiated I wanna break this spell That you've created

You're something beautiful A contradiction I wanna play the game I want the friction

You will be the death of me Yeah, you will be the death of me

Bury it I won't let you bury it I won't let you smother it I won't let you murder it

Our time is running out Our time is running out You can't push it underground You can't stop it screaming out

I wanted freedom Bound and restricted I tried to give you up But I'm addicted

Now that you know I'm trapped Sense of elation You'd never dream of Breaking this fixation

You will squeeze the life out of me

Bury it I won't let you bury it I won't let you smother it I won't let you murder it

And our time is running out Our time is running out You can't push it underground You can't stop it screaming out How did it come to this? Oooooh

You will suck the life out of me

Bury it I won't let you bury it I won't let you smother it I won't let you murder it

And our time is running out Our time is running out You can't push it underground You can't stop it screaming out How did it come to this? Ooooohh

Alternative lyrics

The first print of Absolution was withdrawn due to an error in the track listing.

The CD insert also contained the following lyrics for verse 2, which were also changed in the reprint:

I wanted freedom, bound and restricted

I tried to give you up, but I'm addicted Now that you know I'm trapped, since ovulation You'd never dream of breaking this fixation You will be the death of me Yeah you will be the death of me

Live alternative lyrics

At a Muse gig in "Het Goffertpark" in Nijmegen on June the 19th Matthew Bellamy replaces the original line[10]:

You will suck the life out of me

to:

You will fuck the life out of me

This explicit line might refer to his rumoured new found love Kate Hudson.


In some live concerts,

Our time is running out

is changed to:

'Cause our time is running out

And

You can't push it underground

is sometimes changed to:

You can't push it underneath the ground

And sometimes he says

I'm losing control

In place of

How did it come to this?

References

  1. (2003-09). [Absolution notes]. Taste Media. [verify]
  2. Chartstats.com
  3. Cctv - Muse rehearsals (2003-07-16). MicroCuts. Retrieved from microcuts.net.
  4. a b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named nocite
  5. a b Rock Mag. (2003-09). "Apocalypse Now" September 2003. Rock Mag. [verify]
  6. Mark Beaumont. (2013-09-13). It's the end of the world as we know it. Retrieved from microcuts.net.
  7. We feel sorry for bands being hyped (2003-10-02). Laut. Retrieved 2007-05-01 from laut.de. [verify]
  8. a b Adam Mamo. (2007-12-03). Tales of the Tracks. Rip It Up. [verify]
  9. Chris - Absolution EPK (needed)
  10. Youtube. (2010-06-19). Video Time is running out @ Goffertpark. Retrieved 2010-01-07 from youtube.com.

See also


Back to Absolution