Sometimes

"Sometimes" is the tenth track on Time 'n' Place.

Composition
The recording was later overdubbed with Casios at home in Logic. Then, that was bounced out of Logic and recorded to cassette tape. Sarah is joined on vocals by "The Sometimes Singers", a group of musical collaborators from their childhood up to 2018. The "Sometimes Singers" consist of Oscar Scheller, bo en, George Upton, Yasmin Leigh and Gus' sister, Aggie. The song was recorded on a really hot day, but everyone worked hard take after take until they got it right. The group tried multiple versions, including one with live claps, which didn't work, and one as dementedly cheery as possible, which ended up being the take that was used.

Origin and Meaning
"Sometimes" is about pushing through depression with a positive outlook. The song pays homage to campy bittersweet pop classics like "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" and "Smile", which become devastating/freakish in the right/wrong context. Gus and George wrote the song when they were going to secondary school together. According to the group, they "were dragging experiences from our personal histories into the irrational memory vortex of Time 'n' Place."

Lyrics
Sometimes life gets you down But you can turn it all around The raindrops keep falling You're soaking to the bone And you can't see for the clouds

Sometimes, life isn't fair But you can beat it, don't despair You win some, you lose some And then you lose some more You even played your best

But just round the corner The sun's looking dapper And Lady Luck's his date The happy days are coming again

Sometimes life is a drag But get that chin up don't be sad 'Cos somebody up there Is looking out for you And now they're making plans

But just round the corner Well the real truth of it's that Nobody really knows Life sure doesn't make sense But on your boots you can bet That everybody gets the blues Sometimes

Trivia

 * "Sometimes" is the third shortest song on Time 'n' Place, after "Outside" and "Flyway".