Fun fact, find the answer at the bottom of this email.

Cyndi Lauper co-wrote this song with Rob Hyman who came up with the first line of lyrics, and the rest of the song just came together from Cyndi’s real life experiences. What was the first line written?

If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting

For those who know true devotion

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Read time: 5 minutes

Lyrics

Lying in my bed
I hear the clock tick and think of you
Caught up in circles
Confusion is nothing new
Flashback, warm nights
Almost left behind
Suitcase of memories
Time after

Sometimes, you picture me
I'm walking too far ahead
You're calling to me
I can't hear what you've said
Then you say, "Go slow"
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds

Since it’s my birthday, I wanted to spend quality time with a song that is dear to my heart. Oh, how I love this song! As a songwriter, I’m a huge fan of how she sings “time after” then instead of finishing the title of the song by singing “time”, she sings the next line, fluidly taking us from one heavy thought to another. Absolutely brilliant both lyrically and vocally.

I also love the how Cyndi Lauper takes us through her senses; lying in bed, hear the clock tick, warm nights, you picture me, and I can’t hear what you’ve said. She talks about being confused and ties it in masterfully with how he pictures her walking too far ahead, she can’t hear him, he says to “go slow” then she falls behind. They aren’t aligning. The metaphor “the second hand unwinds” is fitting as time is going backwards and nothing is the way it’s supposed to be.

Lyrics

If you're lost, you can look, and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I'll be waiting
Time after time

American Songwriter shared what each of the songs writers believes this song is about. “There’s a mystery to this song,” said Rob Hyman, around the meaning of “Time After Time.” He added, “It’s a bittersweet song… and there’s a darker side and then there’s an uplifting side, but it’s not a happy song. It’s a hopeful song, but I think that’s life. It’s hard to write love songs without being overly ‘oh I love you forever,’ or it’s a breakup song ‘I never want to see you again’ and it’s an angry, bitter song.”

He adds, “I think that’s what’s touching people and continues to. For me, the best songs are the ones with a bit of mystery in them. You don’t really quite know what’s going on there.”

Though it’s “mysterious” to Hyman, “Time After Time” has more spiritual meaning for Lauper. “It’s really about testing love,” she said. “If you love somebody you’re there… whatever happens, you’re there. I think that is what grabbed people and the fact that there were real moments of humanity in it.”

Cyndi Lauper adds, “The melody was catchy and hypnotic. The rhythm was hynoptic. My vocal was hynoptic. If you’re writing something and you put something very real in it then someone listening is going to feel something very real.”

Lyrics

After my picture fades
And darkness has turned to gray
Watching through windows
You're wondering if I'm okay
Secrets stolen from deep inside (deep inside)
And the drum beats out of time

Think about this…

Are you able to express your devotion, even at times when you are not aligned?

Sometimes we believe we are the reason things aren’t clicking the way they should. Are you able to have patience and grace for yourself while healing, growing and trying to improve?

Key Take Aways

• Love can be bittersweet

• If we learn to truly love, despite the hardships in doing so we will have more pure and lasting capacity for love.

Fun Fact Trivia:

Cyndi Lauper co-wrote this song with Rob Hyman who came up with the first line of lyrics, and the rest of the song just came together from Cyndi’s real life experiences. What was the first line written?

Answer: “suitcase of memories”

Love is the greatest adventure!

~LaDena

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