Out of Time

"Out of Time" is a poignant exploration of regret, self-awareness, and the acceptance of lost love. Lyrically, the song details The Weeknd's character acknowledging his past failures and emotional unavailability, which stemmed from his own unresolved trauma. He recognizes that his coldness and inability to commit have cost him a meaningful relationship. Now that his former partner has moved on, he is finally ready to express his love but realizes it is too late, hence the recurring motif of being "out of time."

The song operates within the larger conceptual framework of the album Dawn FM, which represents a state of purgatory where the protagonist reflects on his life while listening to a transitional radio station. In this context, "Out of Time" is a moment of painful clarity. The smooth, almost euphoric 80s-inspired city pop music creates a stark contrast with the sorrowful lyrics, a technique that highlights the bittersweet nature of his realization. The song isn't just about losing a person; it's about confronting one's own demons and understanding that personal growth doesn't erase past mistakes or guarantee a second chance. Jim Carrey's spoken-word outro reinforces this, acting as a guide leading the protagonist away from his phantom regrets and toward acceptance and a new state of existence, be it the afterlife or a spiritual awakening.

The song's narrative centers on a protagonist who is grappling with the consequences of his past actions in a relationship. He starts by acknowledging the present moment, listening to the very song that defines his predicament, a ballad that reminds him of his lost love. He is overcome with regret for not being present and emotionally available when his partner needed him the most. She had pleaded with him to stay, her eyes filled with desperation, but he failed to reciprocate her feelings and express his own, a mistake he now deeply regrets.

The chorus is a painful admission of his current reality: he is "out of time." He wants to declare his love and promise to care for her, but it's too late. This phrase is repeated, emphasizing the finality and his powerlessness. He recognizes that his past trauma and emotional coldness have pushed away those who loved him. This self-awareness, however, comes with the heavy price of her having moved on with someone else. He can't bring himself to see her happy with another person, as it's a stark reminder of his failure.

Despite this, he offers a sliver of hope, a desperate plea for a second chance. He tells her that if her new partner makes even a small mistake or if she feels a flicker of doubt, he will be there waiting. This highlights his lingering attachment and his inability to fully let go, even as he acknowledges the futility of his situation. The song concludes not with his own voice, but with an outro from a soft-spoken radio host, a character who seems to be guiding him through a state of transition or purgatory. This host, voiced by Jim Carrey, offers a form of absolution, promising that he will soon be healed, forgiven, and freed from all his trauma, pain, guilt, and shame. This ending shifts the song's personal regret into a broader, more existential context of moving toward a new state of being, leaving the listener to ponder whether this is death, rebirth, or simply a profound psychological shift. The host's gentle but firm statement that he must "walk into the light" reinforces the idea that there is no turning back, and the time for regret has passed.

"Out of Time" was released on January 7, 2022, as the seventh track on The Weeknd's fifth studio album, Dawn FM. It was officially sent to American urban adult contemporary radio as the album's third single on January 25, 2022. The song was written by The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) and Daniel Lopatin (Oneohtrix Point Never), who also handled the primary production. Max Martin and Oscar Holter are credited with additional production.

A key element of the song's creation is its prominent sample of the 1983 Japanese city pop song "Midnight Pretenders" by Tomoko Aran. This sampling led to Tomoko Aran and her co-writer Tetsurō Oda receiving songwriting credits on "Out of Time". The use of this sample was a deliberate choice that anchors the song in the 80s aesthetic that defines much of the Dawn FM album and contributed to a renewed interest in the city pop genre.

The song also famously features a spoken-word outro narrated by actor Jim Carrey, who plays the role of a radio host for the fictional station "103.5 Dawn FM". The Weeknd and Carrey, who are real-life neighbors and friends, collaborated on the album, with Carrey providing narration that thematically links the tracks together, guiding the listener through the album's purgatorial concept.

The central metaphor in "Out of Time" is the title itself, representing the finality of a lost opportunity for love and reconciliation. This is not just about bad timing but about a definitive end point caused by the protagonist's past actions. The entire song functions within the larger allegory of the Dawn FM album, which frames the listening experience as a journey through purgatory, with the radio station acting as a guide to the afterlife or a state of enlightenment.

The official music video adds layers of symbolism. The karaoke bar setting, a direct reference to the film Lost in Translation, symbolizes a fleeting, dream-like connection and a performance of intimacy that feels both real and artificial. The appearance of an elderly version of The Weeknd represents his past catching up to him, a confrontation with the consequences of his life choices. The video culminates with Jim Carrey, as a surgeon-like figure, placing a mask on The Weeknd, which can be interpreted as an acceptance of a new identity, the shedding of his past self, or the artificiality of his celebrity persona. This act symbolizes the final transition, where he must leave his regrets behind to be "healed, forgiven, and refreshed."

The predominant emotional tone of "Out of Time" is a complex blend of melancholy, regret, and nostalgic longing. The Weeknd's smooth, almost wistful vocal delivery conveys a deep sense of sorrow and self-reflection over a love he ruined due to his own trauma and emotional immaturity. This sadness is juxtaposed with the song's musical arrangement, which is surprisingly upbeat and pleasant. The warm, breezy quality of the 80s city pop sample creates a bittersweet atmosphere, making the listener feel as if they are reminiscing on a fond memory that is now tainted by pain.

There is a subtle emotional shift throughout the song. It begins with pure, introspective regret and moves toward a desperate, albeit faint, glimmer of hope in the bridge where he asks for a second chance. However, this hope is quickly extinguished by the finality of the chorus. The song concludes with Jim Carrey's monologue, which shifts the emotional landscape from personal heartbreak to a more serene, philosophical state of acceptance and transition. The monologue speaks of being "healed, forgiven, and refreshed," moving the song from the specific pain of regret to a universal theme of letting go and finding peace.

"Out of Time" achieved significant cultural resonance as a standout track from the critically acclaimed album Dawn FM. The song charted worldwide, reaching number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and performing well in several other countries, particularly in Asia where the Japanese sample was a point of interest. The song was also recognized by critics, being named one of the 50 best songs of 2022 by Billboard. It won the MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video in 2022.

The song's most significant cultural impact was its role in popularizing Japanese city pop for a new global audience. By sampling Tomoko Aran's "Midnight Pretenders," The Weeknd introduced the genre to millions of listeners, leading to a resurgence of interest in Aran's original work, which was officially re-released in 2022 after 39 years. The music video, co-starring Squid Game actress HoYeon Jung and Jim Carrey, also garnered widespread attention for its cinematic quality and narrative depth, with many noting its stylistic homage to Sofia Coppola's film Lost in Translation.

"Out of Time" is built on a relaxed, mid-tempo groove of approximately 93 beats per minute. The rhythm is steady and danceable, driven by a simple drum machine pattern and a prominent, melodic bassline sampled from "Midnight Pretenders." This creates a smooth, almost hypnotic feel that contrasts with the lyrical theme of anguish and regret, a common technique in The Weeknd's work.

The song's structure follows a conventional verse-chorus form, which makes it accessible and memorable. The rhyme scheme is generally simple and consistent within sections, often using couplets or AABB patterns to maintain a fluid, pop-friendly lyrical flow. For instance, in the second verse, The Weeknd employs a series of rhymes to build a plea: "But I'll be on my way / You were everything I wanted, but I just can't stay." Later, he uses a more complex internal and multi-syllabic rhyme scheme in the bridge with lines like, "If he mess up just a little / You know my line, you know my line / If you don't trust him a little / Then come right back, girl, come right back." This interplay between the steady musical rhythm and the conversational lyrical rhythm enhances the song's emotional sincerity and pop appeal.

Musically, "Out of Time" is a masterclass in genre synthesis. Its foundation is built upon a direct sample of Tomoko Aran's 1983 city pop track "Midnight Pretenders," which gives the song its signature 80s Japanese pop feel, characterized by mellow grooves, lush synth pads, and a clean, funky bassline. This is blended with contemporary R&B, creating a sound that is both nostalgic and modern. The production, handled by The Weeknd and Oneohtrix Point Never, with additions from Max Martin and Oscar Holter, is meticulously clean and polished, allowing the emotional weight to be carried by the vocals and lyrics.

The Weeknd's vocal performance is notably restrained and smooth, contrasting with some of his more dramatic deliveries on other tracks. He employs a delicate, almost conversational tone that enhances the song's confessional quality, reminiscent of Michael Jackson's balladic style. Lyrically, the song uses a direct narrative and a recurring refrain ("I'm out of time") that functions as a powerful, memorable hook. The most significant stylistic choice is the inclusion of Jim Carrey's spoken-word outro. This breaks the song's musical form and functions as a diegetic element from the album's radio concept, directly addressing the listener/protagonist and advancing the overarching narrative of transition and release from earthly pain.