In an Instagram post announcing the release of the song, Olivia Dean stated:
it’s a song about trying to be in two places at one, trying to be everything to everyone and still have some left over for yourself. [it’s] about what it means to be both ambitious and a woman!
[Verse 1]
Coming back to your place
But I'm still half a world away
Coming back to your face
There's a guilt that I'm tryna place
Let me try to explain
[Chorus]
It's a gift to exist
It's a wonder to taste
And it's hard to resist
When it's all on my plate, alright
And I'm tired, I don't know what you want me to do
If I could, then I would, but I can't split in two
Alright
[Post-Chorus]
It's up to me to spend my time
I gave you yours, so give me mine
And in between is hard to find
When I'm in and out of time
[Verse 2]
Am I unfamiliar
Like checking in to some foreign hotel
(Checking out by twelve)
Wishing I could steal ya
To a place where there's no one еlse
Is it greedy though?
Can I ask for both?
[Chorus]
For the gift to exist
For thе wonder to taste
And it's hard to resist when it's all on my plate, alright
And I'm tired, I don't know what you want me to do
If I could, then I would, but I can't split in two
Alright
[Post-Chorus]
It's up to me to spend my time
I gave you yours, so give me mine
And in-between is hard to find
When I'm in and out of time
[Outro]
In and out
Out of time
In and out
Out of time
Time
Time was written by Max Wolfgang & Bastian Langebæk & Aqualung & Olivia Dean.
Time was produced by Zach Nahome.
Olivia Dean released Time on Wed Jun 26 2024.