Closing Time

So, in February of 2006, I proposed another lyric writing contest on the Bon Jovi messageboard I post on (for the previous one, see the entry entitled Fade Into The Sun). This time, the title chosen was Closing Time (although one of my suggestions, Edge Of The World, was very close ... I really should write that song one day).

I had a bit of difficulty writing this one. Eventually, I decided to to combine the metaphor of an all day drinking session with the idea of having to say goodbye. The lyrics then became about saying goodbye at the end of the night, but with a finality, a suggestion that it is goodbye forever. I threw in a few fatalistic, and even apocalyptic references to make it vague as to whether it is two lovers sharing their last goodbye; or if the protagonist is dying, with the drinking session being a metaphor for his life; or if the world itself is dying, and the drinking session being a metaphor for it's history. I tried to leave it open ended.

And ... I won! :D Some of the comments I got from voters were: "Fantastic Imagery", "Unique Phrasings", "Non-Stereotypical take on title", "Flowing lyrics" and"Easy to relate to". I was really proud of winning this, especially think I really think some of the other entries were a lot better. So here it is, my AWARD WINNING song :) ....

Closing Time - April 2006

They say that when you're all that's left
It's a sign you've stayed too long
And all the signs suggest to me
The ending has begun
More wine!
Raise a glass to what lies ahead
More wine!
And we'll drink until we're ...

The sun is setting in distant skies
Soon it will be time

Chorus:
Though the drinks have flowed like rivers
Now the ice is melting away
Can't comprehend the flow of time
Within the drunken haze
We all fought to make it last forever
And it's only now that I'm no longer so blind
And I think it's nearly closing time
Yeah, I think it's nearly closing time
Turn out the lights
Say goodnight, and goodbye

Long has been this perfect day
Since that first good-morning kiss
We spent most of it together
And I thought we'd found our bliss
More time!
I silently beg though I know it can't be
No more time!
It won't be too long until we're all ...

The owner's fading down the lights
Soon it will be time

Chorus:
Though the drinks have flowed like rivers
Now the ice is melting away
Can't comprehend the flow of time
Within the drunken haze
We all fought to make it last forever
And it's only now that I'm no longer so blind
And I think it's nearly closing time
Yeah, I think it's nearly closing time
Turn out the lights
Say goodnight, and goodbye

And is it any wonder
On this day I spent with you
That I almost started to believe
What I knew couldn't be true?

Now it all seems so naive
Can that really have been me
Who thought it might last
For eternity?

Only one thing lasts forever
And it means nothing to me...

Chorus:
Though the drinks have flowed like rivers
Now the ice is melting away
Can't comprehend the flow of time
Within the drunken haze
We all fought to make it last forever
And it's only now that I'm no longer so blind
And I think it's nearly closing time
Yeah, I think it's nearly closing time
Turn out the lights ...

And I think it must be closing time
On all we've ever known
After we've left here tonight
We won't be going home
The horsemen fly across the sky
Come, turn out the lights
Goodnight
And goodbye