It's Time

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The party's over
Your time is up
You've had your last pointless teardrop
Washed down in that broken coffee cup
This magic moment concludes when that cigarette ends
Did you get what you wanted?
Well I suppose that depends
Well I suppose that depends

(Chorus:)
If you go, if you go
Where passion is squandered and money is spent
It's time, it's time
It's time, it's time
It's time, it's time, it's time
You must see it's time that you went
You must see it's time that you went

Our brief acquaintance was such a mistake
Now it seems more like a sentence
Or something you always had to fake
This magic moment concludes when they turn out the light
It's not the days when you leave me
But all I fear are the nights
But all I fear are the nights

(Repeat Chorus)

You told the same joke to me too many times
I wish that someone would hit it
Just before you reach
Just before you reach
Just before you reach the punchline

The party's over
Time we broke up
It always seemed like a bad dream
One where I finally woke up
This magic moment concluding our mutual fate
But if you do have to leave me
Who will I have left to hate?
Who will I have left to hate?

(Repeat Chorus)

It's Time
Written byElvis Costello
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced byGeoff Emerick & Elvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, guitars
Steve Nieve - keyboards, drum programming
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
Matt MacManus - rhythm research
RecordedAugust-September 1995, Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin
February 1996, Westside Studios, London
ReleasedMay 13, 1996
AlbumsAll This Useless Beauty, 1996
SinglesIt's Time, 1996 (single edit)
PromosIt's Time, 1996 (promo single)
Rock Over London, 1996
Selections From My Aim Is True, Spike, And All This Useless Beauty, 2001
Length5:57 (album version)
3:48 (single edit)

First known performance:
March 30, 1995, London, England
Last known performance:
September 10, 1996, Tokyo, Japan
     (42 known performances)


Alternate versions

It's Time (Demo)
Performed byElvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, all instruments
Recordedcirca 1990, Elvis' home
ReleasedAugust 21, 2001
AlbumsAll This Useless Beauty (Rhino reissue), 2001
Length3:58

It's Time (Live 1996)
Performed byCostello & Nieve
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Steve Nieve - piano
RecordedMay 14, 1996, Los Angeles, CA
ReleasedDecember 3, 1996
AlbumsCostello & Nieve, 1996
PromosLive At The Troubadour, Los Angeles, 1996
Length5:59
All This Useless BeautyATUB album cover large.jpg

It's Time UK CD single front insert.jpg

Costello & NieveCostello & Nieve album cover.jpg

Covers

Elastic No-No Band Every Elvis Has His Army: ENB Does EC 2005 website with download

Internal links

External links