Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

“Release time to God; He knows what time it is.” – Os Hillman

In 1969, the rock band Chicago released its debut studio album titled, Chicago Transit Authority (which was actually the group’s original name). It was an instant hit and stayed on the Billboard chart for a record 171 weeks, eventually being certified double platinum and earning the Chicago a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist of the Year.

Three songs on that album became hits, one of which was Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? The song was written by Robert Lamm, who had this to say about the iconic tune…

"[It's] not a complicated song, but it’s certainly a quirky song. But that was my intent. I wanted to write something that wasn’t ordinary, that wasn’t blues-based, that didn’t have ice cream changes, and would allow the horns to shine and give Lee Loughnane a solo. So, all that was the intent.”

Music critic Lindsay Planer later claimed that the lyrics are about "the hurried and harried modern society as it ultimately fails to take the 'time' to appreciate anything existing outside of its insular world." Meanwhile, Cash Box said that Chicago's "exciting arrangements and superb material add up to an aural outburst that should blossom as a flowering chart entry." And Record World added that it's a "winning cut" and a "natural hit if ever there was one.” They were both right, because Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? soared to #7 in the U.S. and #2 in Canada.

Here are a few of its memorable – and somewhat haunting – lyrics…

As I was walking down the street one day
A man came up to me and asked me
What the time was that was on my watch, yeah
I said

(I don't) does anybody really know what time it is? (Care)
Does anybody really care? (About time)
If so, I can't imagine why (oh no, no)
We've all got time enough to cry

Well, here’s the good news for us as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ: God knows exactly what time it is! In fact, He created time, even though He exists outside of it and isn’t bound by it. And so, Christians can relax… and rest in the knowledge that God is in complete and utter control 24/7, 365.

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5 (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President