By Marco den Ouden
In her excellent history, The Secular Enlightenment, Margaret C. Jacob doesn't discuss the political ramifications of the Enlightenment so much as the cultural influences that continue to this day. The main impact was that it turned western society from a religious base to a secular one. And one aspect of this is a change in our notion of time.
The relationship between the self and time was markedly different when experienced by anxiety-ridden religious men and women as opposed to those who effortlessly embraced, and came to live by, secular time. (page 50)
It moved society away from fatalism and a belief in predestination to one where humanity was in control of its own destiny. This, coupled with the advent of cheap clocks and pocket watches put a new emphasis on punctuality. Punctuality "had evolved into a value." (page 62)
Punctuality came to be a matter of respectability on a par with telling the truth and honouring one's commitments.
Most of the songs in this week's collection reflect the value we place on punctuality. The most common theme in this week's nominations was on the relations between men and women where a casual attitude to punctuality can reflect on the faithfulness of one's partner.
We start with a tune from the 1930s, the Darktown Strutters' Ball as sung by The Charioteers. He's going to pick her up at half past eight. "Now baby, don't be late!" he tells her. Even an illicit relationship demands punctuality. Billy Paul tells us in Me and Mrs. Jones that they always rendezvous at the same time at the same café at 6:30.
Then there are those torn by the tardiness of their paramours. Joni Mitchell worries because her man is three hours late. She keeps watching for his Car on a Hill with an aching heart. The Foundations also worry about the relationship. She promises to be over at ten but doesn't show. She never calls. "Why do you Build Me Up, Buttercup?" he asks. "Don't break my heart." Dinah Washington is also fed up with her beau's casualness and lays it on the line. "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby?" she asks.
Tyler the Creator isn't worried, he's plainly annoyed at his girl always being slow and late. "Punctual is my name," he tells her, but "on the dot is not your aim." Come On, Let's Go! he complains.
The ambivalence really starts to show when it comes to weddings. David Bowie knows that love, even Modern Love, demands getting "to the church on time," yet part of it "terrifies me."
One critique of punctuality come from The Kinks who tell us about the hypocritical conventionality of the Well Respected Man. "His world is built 'round punctuality, it never fails." Yet his love for the girl next door is thwarted by his mother who "knows the best about the matrimonial stakes."
Meanwhile Bachman-Turner Overdrive tell us you can avoid the nine to five lifestyle by becoming self-employed. Be a rock star! Then you can be Takin' Care of Business on your own terms.
A completely different take on punctuality is not so much about a specific time as a specific psychological state. I know from personal experience that the so-called baby clock is very real. Many women, including my wife experienced it. An overwhelming desire, almost a primal need, to become a mother. Bonnie Raitt sings about a friend who "sees babies everywhere she goes and she wants one of her own." She's scared she'll "run out of time." As for Bonnie herself, she thought she was doomed to being single until she found her true love in the Nick of Time.
One of the areas where there seems to be universal approval of punctuality is public transport. There were a lot of songs nominated about trains, but I'm opting for a song about buses. There's a certain charm and humour about the Violent Femmes' Waiting for the Bus. We've all been there!
We close with two numbers expressing different takes on the idea of running out of time. Mano Negra tells us he's the Out of Time Man. A pessimistic song of despair, he tells us time made a fool out of him. Not surprisingly, a version of the song was used in Breaking Bad, a TV series about a man with stage-three lung cancer who is literally running out of time.
On an upbeat note we have Prince Buster with his rendition of Enjoy Yourself. Although I recently got a university degree at age 73 and believe in the adage that it's never too late, nevertheless, the Prince's advice is solid. Don't procrastinate! "The years go by as quickly as you wink. Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself. It's later than you think."
The Almost On-Time A-List Playlist:
Darktown Strutters' Ball - The Charioteers (Nicko)
Me and Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul (Suzi)
Car on a Hill - Joni Mitchell (severin)
Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations (AltraEgo)
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby - Dinah Washington (Loud Atlas)
Come On, Let's Go - Tyler the Creator (magicman)
Modern Love - David Bowie (amylee)
Well Respected Man - The Kinks (Fred Erickson)
Takin' Care of Business - Bachman-Turner Overdrive (Fred Erickson)
Nick of Time - Bonnie Raitt (SweetHome Alabama)
Waiting for the Bus - Violent Femmes (happyclapper)
Out of Time Man - Mano Negra (swawilg)
Enjoy Yourself - Prince Buster (megadom)
The Behind Schedule B-List Playlist:
Ya Ya - Lee Dorsey (severin)
Chantilly Lace - The Big Bopper (SweetHomeAlabama)
This Little Girl of Mine - The Everly Brothers (treefrogdemon)
Won't Be Late - Swaee Lake ft Drake (magicman)
One Toke Over the Line - Brewer & Shipley (BanazirGalbasi)
She's Late But She's Timely - Battlefield Band (treefrogdemon)
An Empty Cup - Buddy Holly (treefrogdemon)
Cumberland Blues - Grateful Dead (amylee)
Love Never Runs On Time - Paul Kelly (megadom)
Last Train to Clarksville - The Monkees (AltraEgo)
Out of Time Man - Mick Harvey (Shoegazer)
Everything stops for Tea - Long John Baldry (tincanman)
Gotta Get Up - Nilsson (Nicko)
I Was on Time - Kevin Morby (tincanman)
Wreck of the Old 97 - Vernon Dalhart (TarquinSpodd)
Long Live Love - Sandie Shaw (Suzi)
The Lady is a Tramp - Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga (Suzi)
It's Late - Dorsey Burnette (Fred Erickson)
Meet Me at Midnight - Rock Vito (Fred Erickson)
Right on Time - Marshall Crenshaw (Jamesowen475)
Darktown Strutters' Ball - Ted Mulry Gang (Nicko)
The Beast - Angus & Julia Stone (Nicko)
Don't Stay Out Late - Lord Creator (Nicko)
Do Not Forske Me Oh My Darling - Tex Ritter (magicman)
El Rey de la Puntualidad - Hector Lavoe (pejepeine)
Midnight Hour/Ya Ya - George Faith (severin)
Stand Clear - Robb Johnson (treefrogdemon)
Closing Time - Leonard Cohen (TarqunSpodd)
Guru’s Wildcard Picks:
9 to 5 - Dolly Parton
11:59 - Blondie
It's Now or Never - Elvis Presley
Buttercup buildup
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Late, early, or right on time? Songs about punctuality. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Fancy a turn behind the pumps at The Song Bar? Care to choose a playlist from songs nominated and write something about it? Then feel free to contact The Song Bar here, or try the usual email address. Also please follow us social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.
Song Bar is non-profit and is simply about sharing great music. We don’t do clickbait or advertisements. Please make any donation to help keep the Bar running: