What does Time is Running Out mean?

Muse: Time is Running Out Meaning

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Album cover for Time is Running Out album cover

Time is Running Out Lyrics

I think I'm drowning
Asphyxiated
I wanna break this spell
That you've created

You're something beautiful
A contradiction
I wanna play the game
I want the friction

You will be the death of me
You will be the death of me

Bury it
I...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    cjk
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    Feb 7th 2007 !⃝

    From my judgment, it seems like this is about a broken relationship. He used to have a friendship with somebody (possibly a romantic thing with a girl) and now she's pulled out of it, and it is torturing him inside. Her lack of interest is killing him, and he is saying that their opportunities for reuniting are running out. They don't have much time left together.
    Also, leading up to the refrain, "I won't let you bury it/I won't let you murder it/I won't let you smother it..." The "it" is their relationship, and though she is trying to end it, he doesn't want it to end; he wants to keep it alive.
    Sound plausible?

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    Sep 4th 2008 !⃝

    I agree with those of you who think this song is about a relationship. I, however, like to think of this song more as an illustration rather then a specific event. Relationships are great, but at the same time they are vicious. Theres always a constant struggle to keep them alive. They are both the most joyful and the most painful things on earth. (Well, amoung the most painful things on Earth.) Like I said, I like to think of this song more as an illustration of not just Bellany's relationship, but relationships in general and the bitter sweet nature of it all. I'd go more in-depth but I think you guys already said it all.

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    Apr 30th 2008 !⃝

    Although the song partially talks about a broken relationship,

    The whole album talks about an apocalypse.

    "Our time is running out" States the obvious, but "I won't let you bury it, I won't let you smother it" yada yada, meaning, you can't hide it, it's going to happen and nothing you do can stop it.

  4. anonymous
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    Nov 17th 2021 !⃝

    I honestly think it’s about the end of something- like a war is going on and their time is running out. It could also be about love yes, but as you guys have said, it could be more than one thing. I personally just adore the song, and the chorus “ooh ohh ohh yeah yeah yeah yeah”

  5. anonymous
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    Aug 7th 2017 !⃝

    The Inevitable Call of Justice and Revolution!

  6. anonymous
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    May 10th 2016 !⃝

    car go vroom vroom the song is about his addiction to drugs COCAINEEEEEEEEE and the sense of elation is that he is high XD

  7. anonymous
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    Jul 24th 2015 !⃝

    You people are incredibly retarded. None of you has guessed the meaning of the song which is pretty obvious. READ THE LYRICS for f's sake

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  8. anonymous
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    Apr 27th 2014 !⃝

    "i wanna friction" "bury it" "time is running out" "you will suck life out of it"

    This song is about sex.

  9. anonymous
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    Oct 21st 2012 !⃝

    have you ever think that this is song is about the Illuminati intimidation?

  10. anonymous
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    Sep 4th 2011 !⃝

    I believe this song is about the "supposed" end of the world. I believe when the author states "our time is running out" he is addressing the coming of the end, Also when he states "you can't push it underground" I believe he is addressing the fact that civilians along with world governments are building large underground facilities to survive cataclysmic events. Lastly when the author states, "You can't stop it screaming out" Well obviously getting all upset and thrashing about because its the end of the world is not going to do you any good, its going to happen anyway.

    When you see the song in this context the rest of the lyrics somewhat fit in with the subject. As to who he is talking to in the song, I believe he is addressing God, some form of cosmic entity, or just addressing the universe itself, crying out in anguish over our fate of doom and gloom.

  11. anonymous
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    Aug 4th 2011 !⃝

    Idk why but this song sounds like twilight..even in the book edward sais "you will be the death of me" haha dont hate on this comment lol p.s. Twilight and muse rock!

  12. anonymous
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    Mar 9th 2011 !⃝

    Honestly this can be interpreted in more than one way, its not unusual for an author of a book, artist of a portrait, conductor for musical chart etc. to tie in multiple interpretations of similar context or emotion into one.

    The one based on how he's referring to drugs, or a relationship to a drug I can see, but it doesn't seem like the full intent from my perspective.But the one about the government and relationship are the ones I agree too.

    But after analyzing the verses, I feel like he's relating the Government in wartime from the view of the one in a million Privates/PFC's/Corporals in the military to a girl. The spell being the obligation he is to serve, and the binding emotions to a girl, 2nd verse going into implying the actions of nationalism as beautiful to the happiness of being in love, and how contradictory it is (going into the 3rd and 4th verse) going into how it will be at the sacrifice to his life ("death of me") to the emotional and mental depression and social death after the end of such a relationship which seemed to bring good cause (relates to how the US Gov't seems to bring the idea of "spreading democracy" for war, but at the cost of what? his life). And he knows he's only got so much time before his candle goes out (or to the end of the relationship) and he isn't going to let death (or the termination of love) catch up to him for any cause. and the giving up part meaning not to fall in love, not to re-enlist in war time, the addiction and binding being his contract for re-enlistment/the "high" he gets with being in love.

    That's what I feel the interpretation is. May be wrong, may be over analyzed, may be biased because I am pro military (not pro war), but again, every interpretation is different based on each individuals prior experiences, knowledge and such.

  13. anonymous
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    Mar 4th 2011 !⃝

    No guys its a about sin. The theme of the album is of an end of some sort, a relationship...life...and in this song of the world...sin is a beautiful thing its a strong addictive drug since everyone abuses it or uses it...but te is running out since the end is near according to the song.

  14. anonymous
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    Oct 18th 2010 !⃝

    my interpretation is that it talks about how 1 guy has fell in love with a girl and they become a couple.Later the girl wants to break up with the guy and the guy knows that this relationship is bad and unhealthy,yet he still is addicted to her and wont let her break up and he knows that time is running out that she will leave

  15. anonymous
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    May 28th 2010 !⃝

    No guys its a about sin. The theme of the album is of an end of some sort, a relationship...life...and in this song of the world...sin is a beautiful thing its a strong addictive drug since everyone abuses it or uses it...but te is running out since the end is near according to the song.

  16. TheRealTruth
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    Mar 4th 2010 !⃝

    The Song is about a Lesbian falling in love with a man and fighting with the attraction - refusing to let him bury it and murder her identity...I can go on but its pretty self-explanatory if you look beyond first glances.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  17. anonymous
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    Nov 26th 2009 !⃝

    Well I heard that it was about Matt Bellamy's bisexuality.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  18. MooreMoney
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    Oct 28th 2009 !⃝

    I think it is about a relationship between a man and a woman who were possibly high school sweethearts but ultimately went there separate ways. The man, realizing that she was the one true love of his life, returns to her only to find that she is in a relationship with someone else. However she feels, in her heart, the same way as he does so they embark in a secret affair but for some reason, maybe she has children with the other man or maybe he has a lot of money and she has a sense of security with him, she will not leave him. The fact that he loves her so much and he knows that she, in her heart, feels the same way is tearing him up inside. There is no way he can ever give up because she is intoxicating like a drug to him and he would rather die than live the rest of his life with out her.

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