Who Knows?

A friend of mine recently heard the singer Lizz Wright at SF Jazz and raved about her. I didn’t know her work, so tonight while cooking stir fry, I listened to some of her recordings. The first song was one Judy Collins recorded by her album of the same name—Who Knows Where the Time Goes? A good question to ask, as it was 1968 when that album came out. 58 years have passed since that first listening, so the question is wholly relevant. Where did all that time go? Ah, that unanswerable question that we all ponder. And no one knows.

 

I confess that I’m a sucker for poignant, reflective, songs asking the big questions. Songs like In My Life, Both Sides Now, My Father— interestingly enough, all recorded by Judy Collins (as well as others).  All were written by young people and I loved them when I was young, even as if their reality felt so far in the future. Now they have a different resonance, but they tug at my heart strings in much the same way. 

 

Speaking of Judy Collins, I heard her perform in the Venetian Room in the Fairmount Hotel in San Francisco, probably some twenty years ago now. She seemed so old! But still could bring the songs across. And now, at 86 years old, she is beginning a 9-month Farewell Tour. It seems like she’s answered the question in Verse 1— “how can (we) know it’s time for (us) to go?” For so many years, the line, “I have no thought of leaving” rang true and now that’s changed. I wonder if she’ll sing this song in the Tour, bring forth the full bittersweet quality of arrival and departure, coming and going, living and dying. Maybe I should buy a ticket. 

 

As for me, I answered the “time for me to go” question in regards to The San Francisco School six years ago, but for all the rest—which is a lot—“I have no thought of leaving.” But leave I must someday and when that occasion arises, the song awaits me to sing it forth. 

 

So treat yourself to a listen. For extra credit, try the Judy Collins, then the Lizz Wright and then a version by the incomparable Nina Simone. Here are the lyrics, if you want to follow along.

 

[Verse 1]
Across the morning sky all the birds are leaving
Ah, how can they know it's time for them to go?
Before the winter fire, we'll still be dreaming
I do not count the time

[Chorus]
Who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

[Verse 2]
Sad deserted shore, your fickle friends are leaving
Ah, but then you know, it's time for them to go
But I will still be here, I have no thought of leaving
I do not count the time

[Chorus]
Who knows where the time goes?
Who knows where the time goes?

[Verse 3]
And I am not alone, while my love is near me
And I know it will be so, 'til it's time to go
So come the storms of winter and then the birds in spring again
I do not fear the time.