Only Time

Album version	3:38	English	2000
Remix	3:14	English	2001

Liner notes

Who knows the way of love? Only time…
notes by Roma Ryan
Only Time: The Collection, 2002

Quotes 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

Only time, calligraphy by Ruth Rowloands

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.

Singles

cover

01 Only Time
02 The First of Autumn
03 The Promise *

* previously unreleased track

cover

01 Only Time (Remix)
02 Oíche Chiúin
03 Willows on the Water
04 Only Time

Music Video

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

Performances

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