Time Will Tell Lyrics & Meaning: Poppy’s Reckoning With Violence, Accountability, and the Truth Beneath the Surface

Time Will Tell Lyrics


[Chorus]
It's never gonna leave you now ’cause time will tell
If violence follows you to hell (Oh-oh)

[Verse 1]
Posture sustains
I undo what the stitches have done
Tell me, has it all been worth the pain?
Why do all the crooks keep calling me home?

[Pre-Chorus]
I open my lungs
Rid all the smoke of what never was
I've become elastic, forced to change
I know all the ire will never stop
If you let it in

[Chorus]
It's never gonna leave you now ’cause time will tell
If violence follows you to hell, oh-oh-oh
And time will tell
Pulling the veil of who you are, oh-oh

[Post-Chorus]
I'll drag you to hell
If time won't tell
I'll find you myself

[Verse 2]
Our bones relate
Amalgamate with the sins in our blood
Why are all the ruins in your wake?
Why were all my heroes forced to stop?

[Pre-Chorus]
I'm flooded with haste
I'm cursing your name to the wind as it was
Why does every loser think they're brave?
I know all the ire will never stop
If you let it in

[Chorus]
It's never gonna leave you now ’cause time will tell
If violence follows you to hell, oh-oh-oh
And time will tell
Pulling the veil of who you are, oh-oh

[Bridge]
Woah-oof
Locked eyes on you
Lay you to waste, ignorance is a plague
All hope is lost on you, you let it in

[Chorus]
It’s never gonna leave you now 'cause time will tell
If violence follows you to hell, oh-oh-oh
And time will tell
Pulling the veil of who you are (Oh-oh)
_______________ End ________________

Time Will Tell Song Meaning [Poppy]

Emerging on January 23, 2026 as part of Poppy’s seventh studio album "Empty Hands", “Time Will Tell” stands at the emotional center of a record that pushes beyond conventional rock boundaries. Produced and co-written with Jordan Fish, the track lands amid an eclectic set of heavy, industrial, and atmospheric songs showcasing Poppy’s fearless evolution and genre-blurring sensibility.

Song Meaning:

From its opening moments, the song confronts the listener with a sense of relentless inevitability, as if one’s past actions and inner turmoil are inescapable. Musically and lyrically, this juxtaposition of tension and release feeds into a larger narrative about confronting internal demons and the consequences of unresolved conflict. Lines depicting transformation and self-questioning portray a psyche pushed to its limits, forced to reconcile pain with growth. By the midpoint, the song’s tension mirrors a reckoning: the veil of self-perception is peeled back, challenging the listener to see beneath surface facades.

In the second half, the focus shifts toward legacy and ruin. The imagery suggests a merging of personal history with collective consequences, where the past’s shadow continues to shape identity. The rising emotional intensity reflects frustration, defiance, and a refusal to be defined by others’ expectations or failures. By the close, the song’s atmosphere becomes one of confrontation — not just with time, but with the self and those forces that have shaped it.

Emotional Core and Themes:

At its heart, “Time Will Tell” deals with inevitability and accountability. Through layered metaphors and visceral sonic dynamics, the song channels the tension between self-reflection and the fear of being haunted by unresolved conflict. This emotional core — the collision of remorse, resistance, and self-realization — resonates with listeners who recognize that growth often demands facing what we least want to confront.

Connection with Listeners:

Listeners are drawn into a cathartic space where raw honesty meets sonic aggression. The track’s thematic weight — grappling with inner conflict, legacy, and transformation — offers both a mirror and a release. Those wrestling with their own emotional shadows may find the song’s defiant energy a powerful companion.

Conclusion:

“Time Will Tell” exemplifies Poppy’s capacity to fuse heavy musical textures with introspective depth. It’s more than a rock song; it’s a confrontation with time itself, asking listeners to reckon not just with what has been lost, but with what still demands resolution. In the landscape of "Empty Hands", it stands as a pivotal moment of self-examination and artistic clarity.
___________ ____________ ___________

Music Video


Song Details

Song Name: Time Will Tell
Artist: Poppy
Album: Empty Hands (2026)
Lyricist: Poppy & Jordan Fish
Producers: Jordan Fish
Genre: Rock
Language: English
Label: Sumerian Records
Released: January 23, 2026

[Disclaimer: Lyrics are for educational and entertainment purposes only. All rights belong to the original owners.]