The lead track on Margo Price’s debut album is an aching autobiographical reflection on the experiences that led her to the present, and the perspective she has on her life and work as a result.
As she said upon the release of the song as a single, “This is my story and I am so thankful for all the...
[Verse]
When I rolled out of town on the unpaved road
I was fifty-seven dollars from being broke
Kissed my mama and my sisters and I said goodbye
And with my suitcase packed, I wiped the tears from my eyes
Times, they were tough growing up at home
My daddy lost the farm when I was two years old
Took a job at the prison working second shift
And that’s the last time I let them take what should be his
[Chorus 1]
'Cause all I want to do is make a little cash
'Cause I've worked all the bad jobs busting my ass
I want to buy back the farm
And bring my mama home some wine
And turn back the clock on the cruel hands of time
[Verse]
When I hit the city, I joined the band
Started singing in the bars and running with the men
But the men, they brought me problems
And the drinking caused me grief
I thought I'd found a friend, but I only found a thief
Soon I settled down with a married man
We had a couple babies, started living off the land
But my firstborn died and I cried out to God
Is there anybody out there looking down on me at all?
[Chorus 2]
'Cause all I want to do is make something last
But I can't see the future, I can't change the past
I want to buy back the farm
And bring my mama home some wine
Turn back the clock on the cruel hands of time
[Verse]
Still I keep a-running fast as I can
Trying to make something honest with my own two hands
And I ain't got the breath to say another bad word
So if I ever said it wrong, won't you forget what you heard?
[Chorus 3]
'Cause all I want to do is make my own path
'Cause I know what I am, I know what I have
I want to buy back the farm
And bring my mama home some wine
Turn back the clock on the cruel hands of time
[Outro]
Cruel hands of time
Cruel hands of time
Cruel hands of time
Hands of Time was written by Margo Price.
Hands of Time was produced by Matt Ross-Spang & Alex Munoz.
Margo Price released Hands of Time on Fri Mar 11 2016.
In 2018, NPR ranked this as the #54 greatest song by a female or nonbinary artist in the 21st century, saying:
When Margo Price released her 2016 debut, Midwest Farmer’s Daughter, a delicious bit of sly, drunken honky-tonk called ‘Hurtin’ on the Bottle' catapulted her to the national stage. But it...