So this is what you meant when you said that you were spent?
And now it's time to build from the bottom of the pit right to the top,
Don't hold back
Packing my bags and giving the academy a rain check

I don't ever want to let you down
I don't ever want to leave this town
'Cause after all
This city never sleeps at night...

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger, but then,
I'll admit, I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am?

So this is where you fell, and I am left to sell
the path that heaven runs through miles of clouded hell,
right to the top
Don't look back
Turning to rags and give the commodities a rain check

I don't ever want to let you down
I don't ever want to leave this town
'Cause after all
This city never sleeps at night...

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger, but then,
I'll admit, I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am?

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger, but then,
I'll admit, I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am?

This road never looked so lonely,
This house doesn't burn down slowly,
to ashes, to ashes...

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger, but then,
I'll admit, I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am?

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit bigger, but then,
I'll admit, I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am?



Lyrics submitted by danzero

Track duration: 03:58


It's Time song meanings
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21 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:So this is what you meant when you said that you were spent?
    And now it's time to build from the bottom of the pit right to the top,
    Don't hold back
    Packing my bags and giving the academy a rain check

    I believe this song is about a young musician/artist who has been constantly resisting and pushing back against his parents who want "better" for him, and are trying to push him in a direction his heart is not in.
    finally they give up trying and give him free rein to make his own decisions, telling him they will try their best to support him in whatever he does. He then takes full advantage of his situation, and drops out of school to pursue his dreams,not holding back anything because he is so passionate about his art. However, since his parents had disconnected him from his dreams as much as possible, he has to start from the bottom.

    I don't ever want to let you down
    I don't ever want to leave this town
    'Cause after all
    This city never sleeps at night...

    I assume this part means he lives in NY, NY because NY is known as "the city that never sleeps." This provides him with a plethora of opportunity.
    Even though he strays from his parents' preferred path he still sets his sights on doing his best not to disappoint them with his decision.

    It's time to begin, isn't it?

    he's nervous

    I get a little bit bigger, but then,
    I'll admit, I'm just the same as I was
    Now don't you understand
    That I'm never changing who I am?

    reassuring his parents that as he gains popularity he won't change into the stereo-typical self-absorbed movie-star-monster.

    So this is where you fell, and I am left to sell
    the path that heaven runs through miles of clouded hell, right to the top

    He has come across some adversity. His parents say he is on his own because they can't either handle it financially or they just don't like the path he is on. Either that, or a label drops him.

    Don't look back
    Turning to rags and give the commodities a rain check

    He is still not giving up. He spends all of his money to try and make his dream come true and gives up a lot of things. Probably getting a job or at least more hours at work, not getting enough sleep.

    (chorus)

    He is still continuing to gain popularity

    This road never looked so lonely,
    This house doesn't burn down slowly,
    to ashes, to ashes...

    Basically he has done all he can do without killing himself, and his dream isn't turning out like he planned, and basically it fails. Yes, dream = crushed, failed, flopped.

    BUT, The song is not over people!
    only his plan A failed. Now he moves onto plan B! NEVER giving up his dream, and ALWAYS listening to his heart. Never changing who he is!

    Now THAT is inspirational my friends! perseverance at its finest
    Flag ettegdirbon April 24, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:So in my opinion, the male has decided to get a fresh start to his life after being dumped by his partner 'So this is what you meant when you said that you were spent?' and it seems that he's made some pretty bad decisions that upset his family.

    He decides to go out and find out what his purpose in life is, and drops out of school 'Packing my bags and giving the academy a rain check'.

    He's afraid at what his parents will say and he's reminiscing about the town that he has grown up in, but decides that it's for his own good to leave and discover himself; 'I don't ever want to let you, I don't ever wanna leave this town'.

    In the chorus, he's telling his loved ones that he's tired of this life here and that he's leaving temporarily, but that he'll always be the same person that they know and love.

    In the bridge, he's finally made it out on his own and he's exploring, but he still wonders if he made the right decision and is doubting himself.

    But when the chorus starts again, it has a new air of achievement and joy and in my opinion, it's the male finally being happy with himself and he's found someone who really cares for him unlike the girl who broke up with him at the beginning. He comes back to his hometown at last, and his loved ones are ecstatic to see him again and they finally decide to accept him for who he is, despite the decisions that he's made.

    I really do love this song. Sorry for the long back story :)
    Flagged audrey430on April 04, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:My interpretation is that the the singer here is not willing to change himself but he wants to venture into life again after something terrible has happened. He is going to start a new life but just because he got hurt the last time he is not gonna change himself, and he is gonna stay himself. maybe people around him think that it's foolish but he holds on to his own belief. This song can be related to many things: big failure, heartbreak... it kinda gives the energy the encouragement to move on... Great song!
    Flagged mimzimuzikon March 29, 2013   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:Maybe it's about a fire...
    Flagged lyremireon March 24, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:>And now it's time to build from the bottom of the pit right to the top

    It's about someone taking steps to change his situation without changing who he is at his core.

    >the path that heaven runs through miles of clouded hell,

    It'll be a tough road.

    >It's time to begin, isn't it?
    >I get a little bit bigger, but then,
    >I'll admit, I'm just the same as I was
    >Now don't you understand
    >That I'm never changing who I am?

    I have left this town, I have become something, and I have pursued my dreams, but through all of this, ALL of this, I have never changed who I am.
    Flagged Soapdishon March 16, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This song is basically describing a person who loves his home town but yet wants to venture out into the world and take his talent where it will be noticed and respected. this individual has negative issues with the academy for unknown reasons but decides that he is going to leave regardless and his career is growing but never-the-less he is going to remain the same person and want people to understand. his intent to capture his journey is related to his loneliness on the road to success but yet he notices himself burning to ashes as the old saying goes "burning your candle at both ends". there was much thought put into this song. i guess we all have our own interpretation of this song due to our own views on life.
    Flagged LaceEmUpon February 15, 2013   Link
  • -3
    General Comment:I think that the song is about the size of a guy's dick, and he is insecure about the size of it when having sex. The other meanings are kinda tied into this.
    Flagged matt728on January 29, 2013   Link
  • -3
    My Interpretation:I think that it's about sex.
    Flagged khussey410on January 02, 2013   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning:I don't want to take the mystery or the personal meaning out of it for anyone. This can be an emotional song, as it surely was for Dan Reynolds. So stop reading if you want it to be special for you.

    I'll just leave it at this for now: Imagine you're raised Mormon and you believe it deeply, so much that you honorably serve two years as a missionary in Nebraska, you come back to major in music at BYU, and it isn't working out the way you want it to, or the way you think it should. Your interest in it is waning. Now you've started a band and you're going to drop out of your church's most renowned school to pursue your career (Packing my bags and giving the academy a rain check). A lot of emotions probably go with that. And some of those emotions are in this song. People might even call your decision-making ability into question (I don't ever want to let you down). And you might wonder if they're right.

    Reference: purevolume.com/news/…
    Flagged Yzermaneelyon December 25, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:It sounds like a break up occurred and the person must build themselves back up to what their ego was formally before that person was crushed by the break up. I feel like the academy is referring to a place for the person to be applauded for achievements. Honestly, the chorus sounds as if the person is just demonstrating that a person grows into themselves with their initial environments and conditioning. Once they grow in a certain location in their childhood, they will stay as that person. Habits may change, but their personalities do not vary as much as they could in their childhood. The person is getting away from a break up, and in order to get through this break up, they have to leave to figure out who they truly are and to build themselves back up again. I think the “house” during the last bridge symbolizes the relationship that was over. It’s time for the person to begin as an individual instead of being in a relationship with someone and always submitting to their whims. This person wants to begin making autonomous choices because the person would only try to fit the mold for their former significant other.
    Flagged scribbles25on December 25, 2012   Link

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