"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