"Only Time" is the third track and the lead single from Irish singer, songwriter, and musician Enya from her fifth studio album, A Day Without Rain, released on November 20, 2000 by WEA. It was released as the lead single for the album on November 6, 2000 by WEA. The song reached number one in Canada, Germany, Poland and Switzerland, number two in Austria, and became Enya's only top-10 single as a solo artist in the United States, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1]
Background[]
Liner notes[]
| “ | The day is a wild child. It is unpredictable, it is reckless, it offers you no security, it promises nothing. It is what you make it. So make it good. | ” |
Notes by Roma Ryan
Only Time - The Collection, 2002[2]
Quote about the song[]
Enya: "I had to stop putting the pressure on myself, because of relationships coming and going, but if relationships aren’t working that means they’re not right. That’s what the single Only Time is about."
- Queen Of The Castle, Guardian Unlimited), 2000
enyabookofdays.com
Her Only Time single became the September 11th healing theme song for many people and now Enya is giving back. She’s donating the earnings from the sale of that single to the Uniform Firefighters Association’s Widows’ and Children’s Fund. That’s a total of just over $461,000. Enya says she hopes that in some small way those funds can help the families of fire fighters in the aftermath of 9/11. The money is set aside for survivors of firefighters killed in the line of duty, including those who responded to the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. She also donated $100,000 to the New York Fire Department after the 9/11 attacks.
- Enya Donates Royalties, 2003
Enya: "Well, basically, we got news from people in America who saw footage, where CNN were using the song, ‘Only Time.’ I was out there promoting it that year. And when I saw the footage it was absolutely so moving. But, in a way, I think everybody in the world felt that if there was any way that we could help them in New York, because it was so traumatized. And they felt there was going to be no more normality ever in the city. And they leaned toward certain songs and one of them was ‘Only Time’ because the song is about time will heal. ‘Only Time’ can tell, and this is what their hope was. So, what we did then was we released the single, the single had never been released there, so we released the single, and then gave all the proceeds then to the fire department. (..) It was strange. But, I’d hoped that the song meant a lot to me as well about how time can heal, and I’d hoped that this was the message that we’re getting into a lot of people. That is what the message they were getting because when I went there to perform it and to sing it, it was nice to be able to give them back some healing because they were so desparate you know, to get any help at that time."
- Late, Late Show, 2005
enyafanstudio.com
Enya: " ‘Only Time’ talks about the fact that time will heal. It won’t get rid of the wound, but time will bring back a sense of normality that is important to your life. That’s what the song is about, so when I thought of that, I could see why there were certain songs that people started listening to [after the 9/11 attacks]. They were trying to get back to where they were, to feel in some way. But they would hurt for a long time."
- The Ever Echoing, Ever Ethereal, Ever Enchanting Enya, Inside Bay Area, 2006
Lyrics[]
Who can say where the road goes?
Where the day flows?
Only time.
And who can say if your love grows
As your heart chose?
Only time.
Who can say why your heart sighs
As your love flies?
Only time.
And who can say why your heart cries
When your love lies?
Only time.
Who can say when the roads meet
That love might be in your heart?
And who can say when the day sleeps
If the night keeps all your heart,
Night keeps all your heart?
Who can say if your love grows
As your heart chose?
Only time.
And who can say where the road goes?
Where the day flows?
Only time.
Who knows? Only time.
Who knows? Only time.
Track listings[]
UK CD and cassette single (2000)[]
- "Only Time"
- "The First Of Autumn"
- "The Promise"
German CD single (2000)[]
- "Only Time"
- "The First Of Autumn"
Remix CD single (2001)[]
- "Only Time"
- "Oíche Chiúin (Silent Night)"
- "Willows On The Water”
- "Only Time" (Original Version)
European CD single (2001)[]
- "Only Time" (Remix) 3:14
- "Only Time" (Original Version) 3:38
UK CD single (2001)[]
- "Only Time" (Remix) 3:13
- "Oíche Chiúin (Silent Night)" 3:45
- "Willows On The Water” 3:02
US 7-inch single (2001)[]
- A1. "Only Time" (Remix) 3:13
- B1. "May It Be" (Edit) 3:30
Scans[]
_(Cover_Front).jpg "Only Time (Remix & Original Version) (Cover Front).jpg (6.21 MB)")
_(Cover_Back).jpg "Only Time (Remix & Original Version) (Cover Back).jpg (4.95 MB)")
_Scans_1.jpg "Only Time & Oíche Chiún (Silent Night) Scans 1.jpg (1.85 MB)")
_Scans_2.jpg "Only Time & Oíche Chiún (Silent Night) Scans 2.jpg (2.55 MB)")
_Scans_3.jpg "Only Time & Oíche Chiún (Silent Night) Scans 3.jpg (498 KB)")
_Sticker.jpg "Only Time & Oíche Chiún (Silent Night) Sticker.jpg (70 KB)")
Release[]
In 2001, "Only Time" was released again as a radio remix. The track was remixed and mastered by the Swiss American Federation (S.A.F. aka Christian B. and Marc Dold) with a final mix by Enya's producer, Nicky Ryan. Enya donated the earnings from the sale of that single to the Widows' and Children's Fund of the Uniformed Firefighters Association to help the families of firefighters in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks. Following the attacks, sales of the album and its lead single, "Only Time", skyrocketed after it was used by several radio and television networks in their coverage and aftermath of the attacks. As a result, "Only Time", (the S.A.F. radio remix) climbed to number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number one on the adult contemporary chart. In 2002, the song received an ECHO Award for Best Single.
Music video[]
The song's music video, which shows Enya performing the song in a spring, summer, fall and winter theme, was directed by Graham Fink. It was released in 2000. In March 2020, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the recording, the video was remastered in 4K.
Music video for "Only Time" was directed by Graham Fink. It represents the seasons and the passing of time. A documentary about making of the video is included on The Video Collection and The Very Best Of Enya DVDs and is quite fun to watch.
There are four versions of the video in total:
"Only Time": regular version and version with Sweet November scenes
"Only Time" (Remix): regular version and version with "Wild Child" scenes
Live performances[]
Enya performed "Only Time" several times, performances included Larry King Live, Children in Need, This Morning, The View, Happy Xmas Show, Entertainment Tonight, Live! with Regis and Kelly, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and 2001 World Music Awards.
| Venue | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Happy Xmas Show (Japan) | Dec 23, 2007 | Lip-synced |
| Music Fair (Japan) | 2001 | Lip-synced |
| Larry King Live (USA) | Nov 8, 2001 | Live |
| The View (USA) | 2001 | |
| World Music Awards (Monaco) | May 2, 2001 | Lip-synced |
| The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (USA) | Feb 12, 2001 | Live |
| Pure Oxygen (USA) | Dec 11, 2000 | Lip-synced |
| Music Station (Japan) | Dec 1, 2000 | Lip-synced |
| Live! With Regis (USA) | 2000 | |
| Children in Need Fundraiser (UK) | Nov 17, 2000 | Lip-synced |
Charts[]
Weekly charts[]
| Chart (2000-2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 69 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 2 |
| Belgium (Ultratop Bubbling Under Wallonia) | 11 |
| Canada (Nielsen (SoundScan) | 1 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | 5 |
| France (SNEP) | 48 |
| Germany (Official German Charts) | 1 |
| Italy (FIMI) | 17 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 44 |
| Poland (Music & Media) | 1 |
| Poland (Nielsen Music Control) | 1 |
| Scotland (OCC) | 38 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 28 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 1 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 32 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 10 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 1 |
| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) | 11 |
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top New Age Digital Tracks (Billboard) | 1 |
| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| France (SNEP) | 92 |
| Hungary (Single Top 40) | 10 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 58 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 34 |
Year-end Charts[]
| Chart (2001) | Position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 9 |
| Canada (Nielsen SoundScan) | 25 |
| Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS) | 9 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | 50 |
| Germany (Official German Charts) | 2 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 8 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 59 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billbaord) | 6 |
| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) | 27 |
| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) | 62 |
| Chart (2002) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Nielsen SoundScan) | 21 |
| Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS) | 39 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 97 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 9 |
| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) | 24 |
Decade-end charts[]
| Chart (2000-2009) | Position |
|---|---|
| Germany (Official German Charts) | 99 |
Certifications[]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Austria (IFPI Austria) | Gold | 25,000* |
| Denmark (IFPI Denmark) | Gold | 45,000‡ |
| Germany (BVMI) | 3× Gold | 750,000^ |
| Italy (FIMI) sales since 2009 | Gold | 25,000‡ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | Gold | 25,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000‡ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history[]
| Region | Version | Date | Format(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Original | November 6, 2000 | Smooth Jazz radio |
| United Kingdom | November 13, 2000 | CD · cassette | |
| Japan | November 15, 2000 | CD | |
| United States | November 20, 2000 | Adult contemporary · hot adult contemporary radio | |
| June 19, 2001 | Contemporary hit radio | ||
| Australia | December 10, 2001 | CD | |
| Japan | Remix | December 19, 2001 |
Trivia[]
- After 9/11, ‘Only Time’ was used as a soundtrack in many radio and television reports about the attacks. Enya consequently released a single featuring a remix of the song with proceeds donated to the families of victims. The track was remixed by S.A.F. (Christian B. and Mark Dold) with a final remix by Nicky Ryan.
- The song was used in the 2001 American romantic drama Sweet November starring Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron.