"Time Doesn't Work" by Holly Miranda is a song about the struggles of not being able to go back in time to fix past mistakes or make things right in a relationship. The lyrics express feelings of regret, longing, and confusion. The narrator admits feeling torn between two negative emotions, being in the present moment without the person they care about or knowing what the person is currently doing. The song conveys a sense of disbelief that things have turned out the way they have. If given the chance, the narrator wishes they could go back in time to ensure that the person they cared about knew how much they were loved and that everything would be fine. However, the reality is that time cannot be controlled or reversed, and the narrator realizes this. The lyrics capture the narrator's persistent pursuit of the person they long for, even within dreams. They acknowledge the difficulty of remembering what they once believed and acknowledging that most of their assumptions were incorrect. The line "It's not fair you know that when I'm next to you, I just can't remember what on earth I'm meant to do" suggests that being in the presence of the person they desire creates a sense of confusion and emotional turmoil. It emphasizes the overwhelming effect that this person has on the narrator and the feeling of being lost in their presence. Overall, the song "Time Doesn't Work" reflects the frustration and helplessness of not being able to change the past or control time when it comes to relationships and love. It speaks to the universal experience of longing for someone and the inability to turn back the clock to make things right.
