You had time
How can I go home
With nothing to say
I know you're going to look at me that way
And say what did you do out there
And what did you decide
You said you needed time
And you had time

You are a china shop
And I am a bull
You are really good food
And I am full
I guess everything is timing
I guess everything's been said
So I am coming home with an empty head

You'll say did they love you or what
I'll say they love what I do
The only one who really loves me is you
And you'll say girl did you kick some butt
And I'll say I don't really remember
But my fingers are sore
And my voice is too

You'll say it's really good to see you
You'll say I missed you horribly
You'll say let me carry that
Give that to me
And you will take the heavy stuff
And you will drive the car
And I'll look out the window and make jokes
About the way things are

How can I go home
With nothing to say
I know you're going to look at me that way
And say what did you do out there
And what did you decide
You said you needed time
And you had time



Lyrics submitted by aur0ra

Track duration: 05:48

"You Had Time" as written by Ani Difranco

Lyrics © BUG MUSIC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


You Had Time song meanings
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21 Comments

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  • 0
    Song Meaning:When you're with someone incredible and you know that it's inevitable that you're going to break their heart.
    Flagged catriona176on August 29, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:honestly i can NOT keep a dry eye when i hear this song. i consider myself to be a manly man but i cry like a baby when i hear it. ive gone alone cross country, camped by myself, saying one day im getting out of this place. and every time i come home. its like i look at my parents faces and i cant say anything. i know they love me and will always support me, but its like i see them, and i cant say anything. ive let myself down, i feel like ive let them down. and i can feel their presence saying, what did you learn, what did you decide, and really ... what did i ? i learned that i tried running away but you cant run. whatever you run from will always be there some time in some sense. well to keep from electrocuting myself from a wet keyboard ill stop now.
    Flag iknownothingon November 05, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This song is so important to me. It makes me think of leaving my childhood, the place I grew up and going to university and feeling like I have to try and be all the things I'm expected to be. Not that I've got pushy parents, I mean that I have to be myself and stand up for myself, and that's what my Mum emphasised to me... and it's hard to know how to be yourself whilst being your parent's child at the same time, knowwhutimean? :P

    But to me it's also very much about a friend I have who I've fallen out with. The lines

    You are a chinashop and I am a bull
    You are really good food and I am full

    It doesn't mean you don't love someone or appreciate them... you might just need time on your own.
    Flag Cornflakezon April 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is such a sad song. I mean, beautiful, but heartbreaking.
    I feel so bad for the person who she's coming home to. They didn't do anything wrong. It's just done. :(
    Flag tankgirlon December 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree.. full of images and depth. If there´s something touching in Ani Difranco´s songs is that... She manages to see through, and somehow she articulates that into human words---- We see what she saw- One of my favorite songs ever-
    Flag astridronderoon August 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this is perfect ani-in-love, and it's just so tragic that as good as it all sounds, life sometimes gets in the way of love, no matter how beautiful. and every time i hear this song, i long for the day that you'll say, "it's really good to see you."
    you'll say, "i missed you horribly."
    you'll say, "let me carry that,
    "give that to me."
    and you will take the heavy stuff
    and you will drive the car......

    its just such a great image.
    Flag kylebankon July 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:divine..
    a person can only be so patient..
    she's amazing.
    Flag -Amz-on April 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:ironic: i adore ani's guitar-playing but my favorite song of hers is a piano song, it's this one...

    most of us were in that position: "i need time to think it over"... i hate to hear that, haven't heard it often and never said it... what exactly do they need? time or the process of thinking? it's mostly none of them...
    Flag amusiqaon February 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the juxtaposition of 'it's FUCKING beautiful' and 'she's got so muc TACT' is ironic to me.

    Anyway - this song is a great song from a great film. great songs make you empathize with the writer/singer & this one does just that..."what did you do out there...what did you decide...you said you needed time, you had time" i like that a lot. it says ''you wanted this time apart to think through things...well, what have you come up with....do you want to be with me or not....do you love me or not...or is love enough?"
    Flag CoryGreenwellon June 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Read 31 Songs by Nick Hornby
    Flag Pretentious arseon May 29, 2005   Link

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