The 30 best songs over time (greatest hits) | MidderMusic (2023)

There is one thing in life that no one can escape: time.

It often feels like there isn't enough. Sometimes we want to go back in time and other times we want to freeze it.

But equalchangeis the only constant in the world, time often flies by.

Now that we're done with some excessive but true sayings, we bring you some of the best songs throughout time.

There are songs about the passage of time, but also melodies that remind you to live in the moment.

So, it's time to start!

30 songs about time

1. Hans Zimmer - "Time"

We begin this musical journey through time with a well-known and powerful melody by Hans Zimmer.

Hans Zimmer is undoubtedly the greatest film music composer of our time, and one of his best works is the soundtrack to Christopher Nolan's "Inception."

"Time" is the most memorable song on this soundtrack and a true musical masterpiece.

2. Moloko - "The time is now"

"The Time is Now" is undoubtedly one of the best pop songs about time.

This disco-influenced song was released in 2000 and is still universally loved and loved.

The song is mostly about living in the moment. And her vibe will definitely motivate you to get out there, dance your heart out, and appreciate the "now."

„I've been at this too long
The time is now
and time has passed
let's last this moment
And the night is young.„

3. Coldplay - "Clocks"

When it comes to the best songs about clocks, Coldplay's 2003 hit is an outright winner.

Clocks was released on Coldplay's unforgettable second studio album, A Rush of Blood to the Head.

Essentially, the song talks about love and life in a complex relationship as time goes by.

„confusion that never ends
Closing walls and ticking clocks
I will come back and take you with menative city
I couldn't help but let you know now."

4. Muse - "Time is running out"

You probably know the feeling that time passes too quickly. This sentiment is definitely universal, so it's no wonder there are so many songs about the passing of time.

In 2003, Muse released an amazing album, "Absolution", and the song "Time is Running Out" stands out.

It is a powerful and captivating rock track that expresses the idea of ​​being cornered. Whether it's time, a person or society, Muse always allows you to find your own meaning.

"Our time is running out
You can't push it underground
you can't stop screaming
How?"

5. Imagine Dragons - "Es hora"

Whenever you're feeling down, listening to "It's Time" by Imagine Dragons will instantly cheer you up.

It is also the band's debut single, released in 2011.

The song was a huge commercial success and marked the beginning of Imagine Dragons' universal popularity.

"It's time to start, right?
I'm getting a little taller, but I'll admit it later.
I am the same as I was
Don't you understand now that I never change?

6. Patrick Wolf - "Time of my life"

"Time of my Life" is the debut single by English singer-songwriter Patrick Wolf.

Despite sharing the same title, "Time of my Life" is not a cover of the famous Dirty Dancing hit.

It's a powerful and emotional song about going through hard times and letting them go.

"We continue
the heart beats strong
still whole
intact
while we share
Our love, goodbye."

7. Cher - "If I could turn back time"

"If I could turn back time
If I could find a way
I would take away the words that hurt you
And you would stay

From time to time we all want to go back in time and do things differently.

In 1989, a legendary year for music releases, Cher turned those thoughts into a song.

"If I Could Turn Back Time" soon became a hit and one of the most popular songs about wanting to go back in time.

8. Joe Boden - "How long will I love you?"

This sweet and uplifting song was featured in the movie About Time, starring Rachel McAdams and Domnhall Gleeson.

About Time is a romantic comedy-drama about a young man with the ability to travel through time. After trying to change past events to fix the future, he discovers that some things are impossible to change.

One thing that movies and music have taught us about time is that it's probably best not to dwell on the past. Or time travel in general.

„How Long Will I Love You
As long as the stars are above you
And more time if I can„

9. Cyndi Lauper - "Over and Over Again"

You may not get a chance to travel back in time, but you can travel back in time by listening to some great all-time hits.

Released in 1983, "Time After Time" remains one of the most popular songs of all time.

After all, it is also a cult love song about devotion, patience, but also about difficulties in relationships.

Many musicians have covered this song, including Iron & Wine, who have done a delicate acoustic version.

"If you are lost, you can search and you will find me
And again
If you fall, I'll catch you, I'll wait
And again."

10. Pink Floyd - "Time"

The sound of clocks, alarms and the ticking of time - you'll know right away it's Pink Floyd's "Time".

The song appears on the band's legendary album, Dark Side of the Moon.

Besides being one of Pink Floyd's best works, this song is a good reminder of how time flies before you know it.

It's easy to get lost in everyday life and be in a loop of always waiting for something. but your life passesnow, and you shouldn't waste it waiting.

"Get rid of the moments that make a day boring
Fry and spend the hours in a casual way
Playing on a piece of land in your hometown
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way."

11. Fatboy Slim - "Right here and now"

As we just mentioned, your life is happening here and now.

And that's exactly what Fatboy Slim conveyed through the title of the 1999 hit single.

"Right Here Right Now" is arguably one of the greatest dance songs of all time, and the music video depicting the unfolding of life helped make this song iconic.

The song delivered an even stronger message afterwards.Fatboy Slim mixed Greta Thunberg's UN speech at one of the live shows.

12. Madonna - "Hang Up"

We were tempted to list Madonna and Justin's hit "4 Minutes," but settled on this pop classic.

Before recording and releasing Hung Up in 2005, Madonna asked ABBA to sample her song Gimme, Gimme, Gimme. She was one of the rare artists to have such a request granted.

In "Hung Up", Madonna is waiting for a guy to call her, but it's definitely a song about time, especially because of the lyrics:

"Time flies so slow for those who wait
There's no time to doubt
Those who run seem to be having fun
I'm trapped
I don't know what to do."

13. Harry Styles - "Sign of the Times"

"Sign of the Times" marked the beginning of Harry Styles' success as a solo artist.

It's a soft rock ballad with an emotional story behind the lyrics: the song was inspired by the tragic story of a mother right after giving birth.

Upon its release in 2017, "Sign of the Times" received critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone even including it on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

"Just stop crying.
Have the time of your life
break the mood
And things go pretty well from here.”

14. Semisonic - "Closing Time"

"Closing time, open all the doors
And let yourself be carried away by the world
Closing time, turn on all the lights.
About all the boys and girls.

"Closing Time" was a breakthrough for American rock band Semisonic.

The song has been featured in movies and TV shows and made a perfect closing song for the band's concerts.

And while Semisonic is considered by many to be a one-hit wonder, "Closing Time" opened many doors for the band, particularly for singer Dan Wilson, who co-wrote many hits, including Adele's "Someone Like You."

15. Quantic - "Time is the Enemy"

Although there are no lyrics about the era, this jazzy trip-hop tune will make you stop for a moment and just listen and think.

And along with an interesting title, Time is the Enemy deserves a place on this list.

The song was released on Quantic's debut album in 2001.

16. ONUKA - "Time"

"Time" by the Ukrainian electro-folk band ONUKA is a dreamy and captivating song about time.

In the song, the narrator wants to freeze time, which is a well-known sentiment.

„The happiness we have is so elusive
Like the shadows that disappear at noon„

17. Kings of Leon - "Time in Disguise"

„Close your eyes and what do you see?
Is he a human or a masked machine?
Is the world I belong to just a shadow of light?
It's just time in disguise.„

In their song from the 2021 album When You See Yourself, Kings of Leon talk about life after their universal success as a band.

Although based on the band's personal experiences, "Time in Disguise" can be interpreted in many ways, and "Time is Disguise" is a good phrase to ponder.

18. Zombies - "Time of the Season"

After the 1968 release "Time of the Season" it turned out to be The Zombies' signature song.

And there's a fun story behind this classic rock song: Although it's a time-of-year song to love, it seems the band members waged a little war of creativity while recording it.

In any case, it is still a very widespread song, which is regularly heard on the radio, especially at this time of year.

„it's the time of the season
when love rises
Just give it to me during this time.
And let me try with happy hands.„

19. Blur - "Out of Time"

„And you've been so busy lately
that you did not find the time
to open your mind
And watch the world spin
Gently out of time.„

These glowing lyrics are the opening of Blur's 2003 single "Out of Time."

The song was recorded in Morocco, where the band invited the Orquesta de Andalucía to play the song with them.

Soft, melancholic harmonies, Damon Albarn's familiar vocals and interesting background instrumentation perfectly capture the idea of ​​time passing.

20. The Rolling Stones - "Time waits for no one"

Blur and Muse aren't the only ones aware of the passage of time. The Rolling Stones firmly state that time waits for no one.

However, they don't say it as firmly as they often do: "Time Waits for No One" is a smoother, slower track than their most popular hits.

And there's something dreamy about that song. It is a good reminder to enjoy the moment you are in.

„Yes, star studded with joy, the stream flows
Yes, when we get our fill of leisure, we see it fly, yes.„

21. LCD sound system –„time to escape"

LCD Soundsystem released this catchy dance tune in 2007.

In our opinion one of his best songs and a perfect soundtrack when it comes to escaping.

„Next time we can talk about it.
Or even start over
I can't tell you what you wanted.„

22. Culture Club - "Time (Heart Clock)"

When it comes to the most popular songs over time, we can't skip this track from Culture Club.

Although not as famous as "Karma Chameleon", "Time (Clock of the Heart)" is still one of their most popular singles.

It is a touching and gentle song with sincere and heartfelt lyrics about time and love lost.

„oh in time
could have been so much more
Time is precious, I know.
On time
could have been so much more
Time has nothing to show.„

23. Amy Macdonald - "Your time will come"

You've probably heard the phrase "Your time will come" more than once.

In her 2010 song, Amy Macdonald sings about making the most of time when you're young, and of course, how time goes by too fast sometimes.

All in all, it's a hopeful song that will encourage you to think more positively about your future.

„Your time will come very soon. Let it out while you're still young.
May all your dreams come true for someone like you.„

24. BADBADNOTGOOD y Sam Herring – „Time Moves Slow“

Sometimes you feel that time passes very quickly and other times that it passes very slowly.

When you listen to "Time Moves Slow" by Canadian instrumental group BADBADNOTGOOD, it feels like the world has slowed down, just a little.

And Future Islands singer Samuel T. Herring's voice perfectly fits the mood of the song.

„time moves slowly
When you are alone
And time passes slowly
When you travel alone.„

25. M83 - "Wait"

And one song that makes you feel as if time has stood still is "Wait" by French electronic duo M83.

It's a powerful and captivating tune with a world of its own.

"Wait" has also been featured in several movies and TV shows, including the movie "The Fault in Our Stars."

„Send your dreams where no one hides
Give your tears to the tide
There is no time.„

26. Lily Allen - "Our Time"

Lily Allen released Our Time on her third studio album Sheezus in 2014.

Although the song isn't as popular as some of the other tracks on the album like "Hard Out Here" and "Air Balloon," it's a sweet, upbeat tune that makes you reflect on your life and appreciate the moment you're in.

„Now let your hair down
it's the end of the week
And now it's our time
let's forget everything
And dress yourself in your merry rags.„

27. Grüner Tag – „Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)“

While it doesn't have the sound Green Day is best known for, "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" is one of the band's most popular songs.

The song was released in 1997 but it looks like it could have been recorded yesterday.

And there's something very raw and emotional about it. After all, Billy Joe Armstrong wrote it for his girlfriend who moved away.

„it is somewhat unpredictable
But in the end he's right
yoExpectyou had the time of your life„

28. Chicago - "Does anyone really know what time it is?"

We're talking about time here and all its effects on people, and this song just asks: does it really matter?

Well, many would agree that time is just a concept and we shouldn't worry too much about it. But It's easier to say it than do it.

On the other hand, it's easier to think like that when you listen to songs like that.

„Does anyone really know what time it is (I don't know)
Does anybody really care (watch the time)
If so, I can't imagine why (no, no)
We all have enough time to cry.„

29. Los Kinks - "Time Song"

When it comes to time songs, The Kinks literally decided to write one.

"Time Song" was recorded in 1968 but released in 2018.

It's a simple and somewhat nostalgic but hopeful song with real lyrics about the times.

„time is so far away from us
But time is between us.
time is ahead of us
above and below us
stand with us
And looks at us from above.„

30. Asaf Avidan und The Mojos - "Song of Reckoning (One Day)"

Although it can be said that time is relative, one thing is certain: one day we will be old.

And that's why people are so concerned with time: it's finite. But that's also why you strive to get the most out of it so you don't regret it.

Reckoning Song (One Day) by the talented Israeli artist Asaf Avidan captures these thoughts perfectly.

„one day baby we'll be old
Oh baby we're getting old
And think of all the stories we could have told.„

Songs About Time - Final Thoughts

It was not easy to choose the top 30 songs about time, since time is one of the most common themes in music.

However, we hope you enjoyed our playlist and found new perspectives on the concept of time.

In the end, many songs suggest making the best of every moment. But that can be overwhelming at times, and it's just as important not to rush things and take your time.

And as J.R.R. Tolkien said: "Time well spent is not time wasted."

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