Time Today

"Time Today" is the second track on Time 'n' Place and the album's second single.

Composition
The song features a Roland MT-32 preset put through a ton of reverb. This combo, normally playing two notes an octave apart, has since appeared in everything from "Dump" to "It's Bugsnax!". The drum machine loop and organ chords throughout the song come from a Casiotone 701. The bones of "Time Today" were written on this same keyboard as soon as it had been brought home from the British Heart Foundation shop in Bromley, many years ago. The little blips you hear were inspired by the sounds of hospital diagnostic equipment (e.g. heart rate monitors); innocuous primitive-digital tones that take on a horrific weight in context.

Meaning
This song is written from the perspective of someone who rarely wakes up early, but has today. There's positivity for the day ahead, but dread at not knowing what to do. The existential inertia of the new day extends to the protagonist's entire life, powered by a fear of death and recorded, not lived.

Music Video
The song's music video was done by Heinz Junkins, who also did the music video for "Make Believe". It was shot in Bristol and at the childhood home of Thomas the Tank Engine creator Rev. W. Awdry in Wiltshire. The music video appears to show Sarah relaxing in a mental health facility. As with the other Time 'n' Place videos, shots were filmed on a range of cameras including film, VHS, DV, a drone and old webcams - again reflecting the arbitrariness of nostalgia for different media. The band described the video as "amazing".

Lyrics
I got so much time today I got hopes and dreams and plans all yet to be made So get out the way 'Cause I'm coming through now I got something to do

And I'll try As I might To keep up with the light 'Til I'm into bed for the night

I got so much more to say I got books and tapes and canvas bearing the weight But they're not arranged 'Cause it takes too long and I'm still moving on

But I don't even know Where I should be trying to go So I guess I'll follow my nose

And I can't help but think about If the sun ever stays down Will I notice or will I Just be sitting around Ticking a list off Rueing what I said wrong But dawn still greets my windowpanes And as long as I shall Wake up in the morning I got plans

I got so much time today I got so much time today I got so much time today I got so much time

Trivia

 * "Time Today" is Gus's favorite from Time 'n' Place.