Take The Time lyrics

[Rodni Demental]

So, as I understand it, this song was written a little bit by each band member at the time. Is it known who exactly wrote each lyrics section? Whether a certain person wrote a certain verse, or was it still more of a collaborative effort of multiple ideas by multiple people? Just something I've thought about a few times but haven't bothered taking the time to find out, sorry if this has been discussed before.

[JayOctavarium]

Oh it's been discussed a thousand times. I don't remember the answer though... except that Portnoy wrote the first verse I think. "Just let me catch my breath"

[GPedrosa]

I think Kevin Moore wrote the chorus.

[Rodni Demental]

I think Kevin Moore wrote the chorus.

I could buy that. It's very catchy. Pull Me Under has a catchy chorus aswell.

Believing what's been said so far, that just leaves "The unbroken spirit" and "I close my eyes" to be written by JP or maybe JM? I'm not sure if "there is something that I feel" was an extension of what Portnoy wrote, because it's separated by an interlude, but I think that's normally still considered the first verse isn't it?

[GPedrosa]

"Mike Portnoy said the following about Take The Time: 'We decided to write a song about everything we'd been going through for the past three years - looking for a new singer, a new label & new management - just all the changes we made & all the frustrations we went through... but, have it coming from each of our four different perspectives. So, we broke it up, and said 'Okay, you take the 1st verse, you take the 2nd verse,' went away, wrote lyrics about our feelings about all the stuff we were going through, and then put it together. Then [we] wrote the chorus together. That was the 1st time we had ever done that, and it's the only song on the album where the lyrics were actually written by everybody.'"

[Rodni Demental]

I see. So I take it was the First and Last time they did this? Too bad.. It does feel somewhat like it's got a different perspective/vibe from each verse, seems like something they should toy with again.

[wasteland]

A few years ago we somehow managed to reach a complete understanding of who wrote which verse, but I forgot. Try browsing the past threads related to Take The Time!

[?]

From MP's Twitter Q&A: https://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/m2811186.aspx

@gzarruk: @MikePortnoy who actually wrote the lyrics for "Take The Time"?" V1=MP, V2=JM, V3=JP, BR=KM, CH=MP & KM

[rumborak]

All parts are pretty good, but KM's part stands out as usual.

[Lowdz]

From MP's Twitter Q&A: https://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/m2811186.aspx

@gzarruk: @MikePortnoy who actually wrote the lyrics for "Take The Time"?" V1=MP, V2=JM, V3=JP, BR=KM, CH=MP & KM

So he had the chance to ask MP anything and he chose this rather than When you come Indonesia? Amateur...

[Öxölklöfför]

From MP's Twitter Q&A: https://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/m2811186.aspx

@gzarruk: @MikePortnoy who actually wrote the lyrics for "Take The Time"?" V1=MP, V2=JM, V3=JP, BR=KM, CH=MP & KM

So, which part is which? I can't spot a third verse, for example...

[rumborak]

V3 is probably "I close my eyes".

[Rodni Demental]

^^^ I thought that was the bridge? It sounds very bridgey, it also sounds like KMs writing. But that's easy to believe now that we have the answers  . I wasn't sure, but now I think the first and second verse are right after each other. DT quite often have 2 verses separated by an interlude instead of the chorus kicking in straight away. So MP 1st verse would end after "it's time for a chhaaaaeeeeaannge".

So JP wrote the madness that is The unbroken spirit section. Figures, although I coulda believed it was JM. 

Also, I just noticed the MP section that has the line "Just let me catch my breath". Gotta be were the title of Just Let Me Breath came from (also being written by MP, I can't believe I never noticed this  ), being a type of polarised spiritual sequel of sorts. And then the play of words in the chorus for JLMB could have been a play on MPs own lyrics depending if it were him or KM that wrote "Close your eyes, You can find all you need in your mind".

[TAC]

(Hold it now)
(Wait a minute)
(Come on! whew)
Just let me catch my breath
I've heard the promises
I've seen the mistakes
I've had my fair share of tough breaks
I need a new voice, a new law, a new way
Take the time, reevaluate
It's time to pick up the pieces
Go back to square one
I think it's time for a change

There is something that I feel
To be something that is real
I feel the heat within my mind
And craft new changes with my eyes
Giving freely wandering promises
A place with decisions I'll fashion
I won't waste another breath

You can feel the waves coming on
(It's time to take the time)
Let them destroy you or carry you on
(It's time to take the time)
You're fighting the weight of the world
But no one can save you this time
Close your eyes
You can find all you need in your mind

The unbroken spirit obscured and disquiet
Finds clearness this trial demands
And at the end of this day sighs an anxious relief
For the fortune lies still in his hands
If there's a pensive fear, a wasted year
A man must learn to cope
If his obsession's real
Suppression that he feels must turn to hope

Life is no more assuring than love
(It's time to take the time)
There are no answers from voices above
(It's time to take the time)
You're fighting the weight of the world
And no one can save you this time
Close your eyes
You can find all you need in your mind

I close my eyes
And feel the water rise around me
Drown the beat of time
Let my senses fall away
I can see much clearer now I'm blind

(Ora che ho perso la vista)
(Ci vedo di piu)

You can feel the waves coming on
(It's time to take the time)
Let them destroy you or carry you on
(It's time to take the time)
You're fighting the weight of the world
But no one can save you this time
Close your eyes
You can find all you need in your mind

Find all you need in your mind
If you take the time
Find all you need in your mind
If you take the time