Pastime Paradise

Album: Songs In The Key Of Life (1976)
Play Video
  • They've been spending most their lives
    Living in a pastime paradise
    They've been spending most their lives
    Living in a pastime paradise
    They've been wasting most their time
    Glorifying days long gone behind
    They've been wasting most their days
    In remembrance of ignorance oldest praise

    Tell me, who of them will come to be?
    How many of them are you and me?
    Dissipation
    Of race relations
    Consolation
    Segregation
    Dispensation
    Isolation
    Exploitation
    Mutilation
    Mutation
    Miscreation
    Confirmation to the evils of the world

    They've been spending most their lives
    Living in a future paradise
    They've been spending most their lives
    Living in a future paradise
    They've been looking in their minds
    For the day that sorrow's lost from time
    They keep telling of the day
    When the savior of love will come to stay

    Tell me, who of them will come to be?
    How many of them are you and me?
    Proclamation
    Of race relations
    Consolation
    Integration
    Verification
    Of revelation
    Acclamation
    World salvation
    Vibration
    Stimulation
    Confirmation to the peace of the world

    They've been spending most their lives
    Living in a pastime paradise
    They've been spending most their lives
    Living in a pastime paradise
    They've been spending most their lives
    Living in a future paradise
    They've been spending most their lives
    Living in a future paradise
    We've been spending too much of our lives
    Living in a pastime paradise
    Let's start living our lives
    Living for the future paradise
    Praise to our lives
    Living for the future paradise
    Shame to anyone's lives
    Living in the pastime paradise Writer/s: Stevie Wonder
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • G. Ben Paxton Ii from Central OhioAmish Paradise. Gangsta's Paradise. Pastime paradise.... But it all goes back to BACH. Music is such a river. Stevie, Coolio, Wierd Al, I salute you all! I enjoyed them all. JSB, You truly ROCK.
  • Dgjfg from St Catharines, OnStevie Wonder's version takes on the same issues being lived (under a different context) 20 years later. Far from glorifying the gangster lifestyle it further explains how slowly progress is made in a country where segregation of all races is still very much in existence in low income neighborhoods in the Detroit, Houston, Miami, LA, etc, etc, etc. areas. Stevie Wonder even performed at the 1995 Billboard awards with Coolio and was a major producer (not just a 'sample approver') of the remix.

    In the rendition at the 1995 Billboard awards, note how Stevie is singing the 'living In a gangsters paradise' version while L.V. is singing the 'living in a pastime paradise' lyrics and in the end they both sing 'aint no gangstas living in paradise..... aint no racists living in paradise'
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo Lyric

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo LyricMusic Quiz

In this quiz, spot the artist who put Romeo into a song lyric.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.