Sign of the Times

Harry Styles has explained that the song is written from the perspective of a mother who has just given birth but is told she only has five minutes to live due to complications. In this brief time, she imparts her final words of wisdom to her newborn child, urging them to "go forth and conquer." This narrative serves as a powerful metaphor for facing mortality and the bittersweet nature of passing on a legacy of hope and resilience in the face of tragedy.

Beyond this specific story, Styles has also stated the song touches on broader themes of social and political turmoil. He mentioned that the song reflects a general feeling of difficult times, acknowledging global events and the importance of fundamental issues like equal rights. The lyrics can be interpreted as a commentary on the cyclical nature of hardship and the human tendency to run from difficult truths, represented by the metaphor of "bullets". Ultimately, "Sign of the Times" is a song about finding strength and hope in moments of despair, whether personal or collective, and the importance of moving forward despite the pain.

The song opens with a gentle plea to cease crying, framing the current hardship as a sign of the times—an inevitable, though painful, part of life. The scene is set for a final, momentous event, a "final show," where one must present their best self. There's a sense of finality and transition, as the lyrics speak of a journey to "the sky," a place where earthly status and persuasion hold no power. While things might appear satisfactory on the surface, there's an underlying acknowledgment that they are not truly well.

The narrative then shifts to a message of encouragement and hope, urging the listener to live life to the fullest. It speaks of breaking through the current atmosphere into a better existence, where things are genuinely good. A promise of reunion in a distant, better place is offered as a source of comfort. This reassurance is juxtaposed with the recurring human struggle of failing to learn from past experiences. The repeated mention of running from "the bullets" suggests a constant flight from pain, danger, or difficult realities.

The song continues to explore this theme of escaping a dire situation, with a growing urgency to get away from the present circumstances. The news of an impending end reinforces this need for departure. Amid this turmoil, there's a moment of reflection on a lack of communication and the need to open up before things become overwhelming. The final verses reiterate the call to run, emphasizing the necessity of leaving the current state behind, before a soft piano outro concludes the emotional journey.

"Sign of the Times" was released on April 7, 2017, as Harry Styles' debut solo single from his self-titled album. The song was co-written by Harry Styles, Jeff Bhasker, Mitch Rowland, Ryan Nasci, Alex Salibian, and Tyler Johnson. The production was handled by Bhasker, with co-production from Salibian and Johnson. The initial idea for the song came to Styles while he was playing chords on a piano in Jamaica. The track was recorded at Gee Jam Studios in Port Antonio, Jamaica, and The Village in Los Angeles, California.

The song's creation was influenced by a desire to create a piece that reflected the tumultuous state of the world while also being deeply personal. Styles has mentioned that the song was partly inspired by his feelings about current events and the importance of fundamental human rights. The specific narrative of the dying mother was a framework to convey these broader emotions of loss and hope. The song was a significant departure from his work with One Direction, showcasing a more rock-influenced sound.

"Sign of the Times" is set in a 4/4 time signature with a slow tempo of 60 beats per minute, which contributes to its ballad-like and anthemic feel. The song's rhythmic structure is relatively simple, allowing the focus to remain on the emotional weight of the lyrics and the soaring melody. The rhyme scheme is not strictly consistent, alternating between patterns but often using couplets (AABB) in the verses, such as "show" and "clothes," and "sky" and "goodbye" (implied). The chorus and pre-chorus sections utilize repetition more than a complex rhyme scheme to create a memorable and impactful hook. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm is crucial; the slow, deliberate pace of the music gives weight to each word, and the gradual build-in instrumentation mirrors the escalating emotional intensity of the narrative.

Musically, "Sign of the Times" is a power ballad that draws heavily from 1970s British rock, with comparisons made to artists like David Bowie and Queen. The song begins with a simple piano melody and gradually builds in intensity, adding drums, guitar, and a 25-voice choir to create a grand, epic soundscape. Styles' vocal performance is notable for its use of a powerful falsetto, which adds to the song's emotional and ethereal quality. Lyrically, the song employs a narrative structure, telling a poignant story that unfolds throughout the verses. The use of direct address ("Just stop your crying") creates an intimate and personal tone, drawing the listener into the emotional core of the song. The repetition of the phrase "Sign of the times" acts as a recurring motif that reinforces the central theme of inevitable hardship.

"Sign of the Times" was a significant commercial and critical success, marking a powerful debut for Harry Styles as a solo artist. It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was widely praised by critics, with Rolling Stone naming it the best song of 2017. The accompanying music video, which features Styles flying over the Isle of Skye in Scotland, won a Brit Award for British Artist Video of the Year in 2018. The song has been noted for its influence from 70s rock and has been seen as a bold artistic statement that distanced Styles from his boy band past. Interestingly, the song shares a title with Prince's acclaimed 1987 album, "Sign o' the Times," and was released 30 years to the day of Prince's album.

The lyrics of "Sign of the Times" are rich with symbolism and metaphors that contribute to its layered meaning.

• The Final Show: The opening lines, "Welcome to the final show, hope you're wearing your best clothes," symbolize the end of a life or a significant era. It frames death not just as an end, but as a final, important performance.
• The Door to the Sky: The line "You can't bribe the door on your way to the sky" is a metaphor for the finality of death and the inability to negotiate or escape it.
• Bullets: The recurring motif of running from "the bullets" is a metaphor for avoiding pain, conflict, or difficult truths. It represents the perpetual human struggle against adversity.
• Breaking Through the Atmosphere: This phrase symbolizes a transition from life to the afterlife, or from a state of suffering to a better place. It conveys a sense of release and ascension.

The most prominent recurring phrase in the song is the title itself, "Sign of the Times," which acts as the central thesis of the track, suggesting that the struggles being faced are indicative of a larger, challenging period. The plea, "Just stop your crying," is repeated at the beginning of the song, setting a tone of consolation in the face of sorrow. The line "We never learn, we been here before" is another key recurring motif, highlighting a cyclical view of human struggle and our inability to avoid repeating past mistakes. The urgent call to action, "We gotta get away from here," is repeated with increasing fervor, emphasizing the desire to escape a painful reality. Finally, the imagery of running from "the bullets" is a powerful recurring metaphor for avoiding pain and conflict.