Time Will Crawl

David Bowie's 'Time Will Crawl' is a haunting reflection on the inexorable passage of time and the often destructive nature of human progress. The song's lyrics paint a dystopian picture of a world where time seems to drag on, leading to a series of catastrophic events and existential crises. Bowie uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey a sense of impending doom and the futility of human endeavors against the relentless march of time.

The opening lines, 'I've never sailed on a sea / I would not challenge a giant / I could not take on the church,' suggest a sense of personal limitation and an acknowledgment of the insurmountable forces at play in the world. The refrain 'Time will crawl / Till the 21st century lose' underscores the idea that time is a slow, creeping force that will eventually lead to the downfall of modern civilization. This theme is further explored through the depiction of a 'government man' who is blind to reality and a 'top-gun pilot' who is doomed to fly endlessly until he bursts, symbolizing the destructive consequences of blind ambition and misguided leadership.

Bowie's lyrics also delve into surreal and nightmarish imagery, such as a 'black black stream / Full of white eyed fish' and a 'drowning man / With no eyes at all.' These lines evoke a sense of environmental decay and human suffering, further emphasizing the bleak outlook on the future. The recurring motif of physical deterioration, with references to migraines, disappearing fingers, and bodies falling apart, serves as a metaphor for the disintegration of society and the human condition under the weight of time.

The song's final verses introduce the figure of a 'talented child' whose arrival in town brings about a sense of foreboding and eventual destruction. The townspeople's passive acceptance of their fate, as they 'lay down to sleep' and 'smelt the gas,' highlights the theme of complacency and the inevitable consequences of ignoring the warning signs of disaster. 'Time Will Crawl' is a powerful commentary on the fragility of human existence and the relentless, often destructive, passage of time.