Time Is a Song: Why Musicians Can’t Stop Singing About It
If there’s one thing musicians love more than questionable haircuts and the search for free backstage snacks, it’s writing songs about time passing. Whether it’s reminiscing on heartbreaks, celebrating decades-long friendships, or wondering where the heck all those years went, the passage of time is as central to songwriting as tuning your guitar (and let’s be honest, some guitarists could use a little help there too).
The Maple State’s Not-So-Sad Reunion: Emo-Punk And the Years That Vanished
Consider Manchester’s emo-punk stalwarts The Maple State. After vanishing for seventeen years – that’s almost as long as it takes to queue for Coachella tickets – they’ve returned with “Don’t Take Forever,” a record bursting with what frontman Greg Counsell calls, “the idea that you’re not locked into any one path… Time just flies by.” Tracks delve into themes such as mental health, love, and, of course, the kind of nostalgia reserved for old friends finally reuniting in a band practice room and immediately arguing about who forgot to bring the snacks. The album swings from the energetic “Zero Days Since Last Incident” to the melancholic yet hopeful “Vacancy,” a tune that manages to capture the bittersweet flavor of the years lost—and the promise of ones yet to come. Nothing says fleeting time quite like a reunion tour where everyone’s knees seem to creak louder than the guitar amps.
Ace Frehley, Rock Legends, and the Magic of Musical Nostalgia
When it comes to songs about time, rock icons like Ace Frehley of KISS practically wrote the manual. Alabama bassist Philip Shouse, who played beside Frehley, describes how performing classics like “Rip It Out” and “Deuce” felt like a direct line to 1975. Those songs—muscle memory set to music—bring history to life every night. But as time passed, Frehley’s on-stage adventures became fond memories, transformed by his legendary humor and showmanship. Shouse himself is channeling the theme with new solo material, reflecting on his journey from backing musician to the frontman facing the great unknown of new beginnings. So, if you feel like your days are racing faster than a ‘70s guitar solo, you’re not alone—even rock stars get sentimental.
The Universal Meter: Time’s Up in Pop, Punk, and Every Other Genre
The thing is, there isn’t a music genre immune to time anxiety. From The Maple State’s emo laments to Frehley’s hard-rock nostalgia, musicians everywhere chronicle the march of seconds and the weight of decades. Even in genres as divergent as post-punk, R&B, and country, you’ll find artists waxing philosophical about growing older, losing loved ones, or wishing for a little more time to finish their encore (or, sometimes, simply their laundry).
Epic debut albums are frequently lauded not just for cool riffs, but for their uncanny ability to capture an era—a snapshot the band hopes will resist time’s eraser. It’s no coincidence that critics refer to music’s power to evoke specific years, referencing Linklater’s films and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s legacy; after all, old songs are like time machines powered by catchy hooks instead of unreliable flux capacitors.
Grief, Growth, and Awkward Dance Moves: Why We Keep Listening
Sometimes, songs about time are more than just wistful recollections—they’re tools for healing. Recent lists of celebrity deaths remind us that behind every iconic song is a human story marked by beginnings and endings. Whether it’s the warmth of Dave Ball’s synth genius, the groove of Limp Bizkit’s Sam Rivers, the anthem-making of Kiss or The Maple State’s collective heartache and hope, music helps us grieve, grow, and occasionally flail about on the dance floor in ways we’d rather not see on Instagram.
Even bands that have been gone for what feels like eons can pick up as if no time at all has passed. The Maple State’s album opens with the cheerful chorus, “You can’t be a winner if you don’t play a hand,” a philosophical gem for anyone facing life’s inevitable ticking clock, or just deciding whether to reheat pizza for breakfast.
Fun, Fast, and Fleeting: Why Songs about Time Remain Timeless
So, what is it about tunes focused on time passing that keeps us coming back for more, from emotional ballads to high-octane riff-fests? Maybe it’s the shared realization that we’re all trying to make sense of this particular ride called life—one that speeds up the older we get and the more playlists we amass. Yet, in these songs, time becomes both the thief and the teacher, stealing moments while gifting wisdom. It asks us the big questions: Did we laugh enough? Did we love well? Did we air-guitar at least once?
Ultimately, whether you’re an indie devotee dissecting the latest Maple State track, a KISS diehard headbanging to “Shock Me,” or just someone considering that questionable hairdo from middle school with a fond (if cringing) smile, these songs about time passing remind us that it’s okay to be emotional, to reflect, and maybe even to dance as if no one’s watching—even if, alas, they probably are.
So next time you tune in to a song about fleeting days or lost years, remember: time may march on, but a great chorus can keep you young at heart. Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s a pizza in the fridge and only so much time to eat it before the band gets back together.
