In a back-and-forth comment exchange yesterday, our friend Michael Seidel responded to my comment that the “calendar is a human contrivance because humans, unlike any other species, seem to feel a need to compartmentalize everything, to know down to the nth of a minute just what time it is.” His response was that he was reminded of this song by Chicago, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? Lightbulbs started flashing, bells started going “ding ding ding”, and I knew this just had to be my music post for today! Thank you again, Michael, for helping me out!
A track from Chicago’s first album, this is an example of an early song featuring their horn section that, in my opinion, makes Chicago great, of Walter Parazaider, James Pankow and Lee Loughnane. It’s also an example of a very cerebral lyric which asks the kind of existential question commonly posited in the ’60s. The song stresses the importance of taking time to appreciate the small pleasures in life instead of rushing from one place to another against the clock.
Chicago singer and keyboard player Robert Lamm wrote this song and sang lead. According to Lamm …
“I was a teenager walking down the street in Brooklyn, New York where I grew up. I walked by a movie theater and there was an usher standing outside taking a cigarette break. I said to him, ‘Hey man, what time is it?’ and he said, ‘Does anybody really know what time it is?’ I remembered that when I was trying to write this sort of Beatle-esque shuffle and just explore the idea of ‘Does anybody really know what time it is?’ It’s not a complicated song, but it’s certainly a quirky song. But that was my intent. I wanted to write something that wasn’t ordinary, that wasn’t blues-based, that didn’t have ice cream changes, and would allow the horns to shine and give Lee Loughnane a solo. So all that was the intent.”
This was the first song the band recorded together. They had been playing live for over a year, but the studio was a new experience for them. This charted at #7 in the U.S., #2 in Canada, and not at all in the UK.
Does Anybody Really Know What Time it is
Song by Chicago
As I was walking down the street one day
A man came up to me and asked me what the time was that was on my watch, yeah
And I said
Does anybody really know what time it is (I don’t)
Does anybody really care (care about time)
If so I can’t imagine why (no, no)
We’ve all got time enough to cry
And I was walking down the street one day
A pretty lady looked at me and said her diamond watch had stopped cold dead
And I said
Does anybody really know what time it is (I don’t)
Does anybody really care (care about time)
If so I can’t imagine why (no, no)
We’ve all got time enough to cry
And I was walking down the street one day (people runnin’ everywhere)
Being pushed and shoved by people (don’t know where to go)
Trying to beat the clock, oh, no I just don’t know (don’t know where I am)
I don’t know, I don’t know, oh (don’t have time to think past the last mile)
(Have no time to look around) And I said, yes I said (run around and think why)
Does anybody really know what time it is (I don’t)
Does anybody really care (care about time)
If so I can’t imagine why (no, no)
We’ve all got time enough to die
Everybody’s working (I don’t care)
I don’t care (about time)
About time (no, no)
I don’t care
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Robert William Lamm
Does Anybody Really Know What Time it is lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Spirit Music Group, BMG Rights Management
One of my favorites! I saw them perform back in college (yes, in the gym!) before they became super popular.
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You lucky girl!!! Glad you liked the song!
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Thanks, Jill!
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Sounds Big Band smooth. Was this when they were still Chicago Transit Authority?
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Yes, it was … I probably should have noted that in my post!
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’25 or 6 to 4′ was very big in the UK, finally made it here!
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I do love that one, too.
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Unlike some of their later stuff, I can see why this wasn’t popular in the UK. . I found it discordant. Yet 25 or 6 to 4 was as smooth as butter, no not peanut butter, settle down.
Cwtch
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It may be discordant … I hadn’t really thought about it. I mostly love hearing the horns! “25 or 6 to 4” is a great one, as well! Peanut butter … did someone say Peanut Butter? Yummyyummyyummy in my tummy! Oh … plain butter, huh? Sigh.
Cwtch
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Chicago headlined the first concert I ever attended at the old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium back in 1973. The opening act was a little known band called Steely Dan.
Guitarist Terry Kath never got the recognition he deserved.
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What an awesome memory! Hmmm … Steely Dan … a little known band … rings a bell 😉
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Jill, great song from a great group. Keith
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Glad you liked it, Keith! I love the horns!
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Always up for some Chicago. I played trombone in high school, so these guys always got me in the mood to return to the horn. (I never did though)
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I think what I love most about Chicago is the horns! Do you still have a trombone? Being near deaf from birth, I never played a musical instrument, but my daughter played the trumpet in her early high school years, then switched to drums. Today, at age 50, she is still playing drums as a member of the Cincinnati Caledonian Pipes and Drums band, and they play all over the Eastern half of the country, plus in Canada. Or rather, they did until the pandemic hit.
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Sounds wonderful, Jill. Hopefully they will get back to it. No the trombone was a rental in High School and I never bought one. I have the mouthpiece though. 😁
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Well, that’s a start!
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Hahahaha. I used to attach it to a hose and funnel and actually make music. Drove the woman in my life at that time up the wall. 😁
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Pingback: ♫ Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? ♫ – Sarah's Attic Of Treasures
Saw them play it live back in ’68.
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That’s awesome! I’m 69 years old, and have never been to a concert in my life!
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I don’t know that you will see any connection, but the early Guess Who recorded the Randy Bachman-written song Clock on the Wall in 1966. It reached No. 16, in Canada, but was ignored in the USA. In Winnipeg, of course, it hit No. 1.
Then there was me. One of the first poems I ever wrote was about time. I can no longer remember what I called it.
Tick, tock. Tick, tock.
The hands on the clock
Will never stop
Or reach the top
Move on, move on
Those days are gone
Time shall not wait
Nor hesitate
So slow so slow
Now time does go
Is not it rude
To suit the mood?
So fast, so fast
Now time goes past
You cannot rest
Because of this pest!
Amateurish, yes, but what do you want out of a 14 yesr-old, lol.
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Not sure I ever heard “Clock on the Wall”, but I’ll check it out. Hmmmm … I rather like the poem, especially for having been written by a 14-year-old kid! At least it rhymes! I like poems that rhyme!
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I also write lots that don’t. It just depends on whether I am keeping my thoughts fenced in, or, pardon the expression, going topless!
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🤣
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All I got was a little empty rectangle standing on end. I doubt that is what you took the time to send.
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It was just a laughing emoji.
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Ahhhh, thank you.
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Times up!
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