Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: singer-songwriter
Song Meaning of “Funny How Time Slips Away – Live” by Willie Nelson
Funny How Time Slips Away – Live by Willie Nelson is a reflective song exploring the passing of time and how swiftly it can go by when we are not paying attention. The music evokes a sense of nostalgia and regret, as Willie laments how memories fade and all that is left is time slipping away at an ever increasing pace.
The song opens with a gentle twangy guitar and Willie’s warm vocals that bring to life the poignant lyrics – “Hello walls, how’d you like to try me? I’m so lonesome I could die.” These lyrics immediately set up the themes of loneliness and longing that will be explored throughout the song. They also suggest the idea of trying to hold onto something that is slipping away.
The chorus, “Funny how time slips away, oh what a shame, oh what a shame,” speaks to the idea of time passing by quickly and that moments we value can be gone in a flash. Willie speaks to the idea that once something has gone, it can be hard to get it back – “I guess you’ve heard it said, a million times before, that living life is more than being born and then dying” – warning that life passes by so quickly and we must appreciate all we have.
The bridge of the song further emphasizes the idea of how memories can fade, and how we must cherish them while we still can – “Never seemed so fast, never so fast.