The Clock

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Note: When I perform The Clock, sometimes I'll include this verse which was cut from the studio recording. It was originally verse 5, and what is now the last verse was verse 6:

verse 5: And how we long for the time off
Vacationing, I leave my watch at home
Then, time slips away
I let the hours roam
Disappearing like the beach sea foam

Saxophone on this song is performed by Steve Wolfe.

The Clock

1. The clock is crying loudly
I’ve turned its bright face against the wall

It tries to make me move—I won’t hear it call.
Then, finally, out of bed I crawl

2. I stare at the clock and it freezes.
Now, it appears not to move its hand

Until I look away—then, it jumps a span!
To lose time is something I can’t stand!

Chorus 1: The clock’s running my life

I see the hands, I see the face

How do I run out of time?

Against the clock, I rush and race

3. I wish that I were a farmer

Who works the day by the traveling sun

But I’m a city girl—I need my watch to run

And have to work until 8 hours are done

4. The clock (talks)(tocks) without ticking

“Timing is everything,” it will say

We budget time like cash—worth more than our pay

Not more than twenty four hours a day

Chorus 2: The clock dictates the time

I fear the hands, I fear the face

It makes me run with its chime

Against the clock, I rush and race

Bridge: The clock can make us worry or be alarmed

No one can ignore it for long

And if its hands ever stopped moving

We’d be in trouble with time that’s wrong—whoa—

5. If I could gather time someplace

And save it for when I would need it most

Then, I’d have such peace—like clouds drifting slow . . .

I wouldn’t care where all the minutes go

(repeat Chorus 1 and Chorus 2)

From the August 6, 2021 Blog: The Story Behind the Song, "The Clock":

Is your clock your "frenemy"? There's an interesting term. How do you feel about your timepiece? Do you long for a vacation where you don't have to look at a clock even once? Do you ever feel "pushed around" by your clock?

I plan on making "The Clock" my next Music Video and would love to include a photo of one of YOUR clocks, as long as it has hands and a face (no digital, please). If you do, I'll give you a photo credit at the end of the video. Even better, if you send me a video of yourself frightened by, frowning at or screaming at a clock, I'll add your name to the VIDEO credits at the end of the Music Video. Send me your photo or video to

my email address and also let me know how you feel about clocks. Maybe you think they are blameless, which is probably the right attitude to have for an inanimate object: "Paige, the clock is just doing its job."

If you need inspiration, listen to my song, "The Clock". In writing this song, I gave a lot of thought to the relationship I have with my clocks. I can be fine one minute, and then with one look at my clock, go into a panic — "I'm LATE!" It's almost as if the clock were a living being. When I was 5 years old, I thought my clock was alive. After all, it has a face and hands that move (how strange is that?)! Think about your relationship with your clocks. You can also listen to all the other philosophy I sing about in "The Clock". Steve Wolfe adds wonderful touches of saxophone to this professional recording. I spent more time recording this song than any of my other ones, adding layers of vocal harmonies and echoes.

Meanwhile, a local writer, Amanda Socci interviewed me last Tuesday afternoon for her "DMV Shorts"
e-newsletter. She says she will finish the story about my life as a singer/songwriter in a few days. Would you please consider subscribing at this link (click HERE) for only $5/mo? Just click on "DMV Shorts" to subscribe.