"Time" is a song by American singer-songwriter Tom Waits appearing on his ninth studio album Rain Dogs. It was written by Waits and was recorded in 1985 at RCA Studios in New York City.
It was covered by Tori Amos for her 2001 concept album Strange Little Girls. Amos made a notable appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman to perform the song; it was the first musical performance on the show after the September 11 attacks.
"Time" was covered again in 2019 by Rosanne Cash for Come On Up to the House: Women Sing Waits, a Tom Waits tribute album featuring female artists' covers of Waits' songs.
In June 2026, CBS News included the song in its list of the 250 essential American songs of the past 250 years.
Accolades Year Publication Country Accolade Rank 2000 Elvis Costello United Kingdom The Best Songs from the 500 Best Albums Ever * 2011 Toby Creswell Australia 1001 Songs * 2014 Musikexpress Germany The 700 Best Songs of All Time 510
(*) designates unordered lists.
Personnel Adapted from the Rain Dogs liner notes. Tom Waits – vocals, guitar, production Musicians William Shimmel – accordion Larry Taylor – double bass Production and additional personnel Dennis Ferrante – recording Tom Gonzales – recording Robert Musso – engineering, mixing Howie Weinberg – mastering
In popular culture The song was used in "The Mother Box Origins" clip for 2021s Zack Snyder's Justice League.
The song was used in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Winter Episode for a flashback of Richard Gilmore’s funeral.
See also Tom Waits discography
References