Only Time

"Only Time"
Single by Enya
from the album A Day Without Rain
B-side
  • "The First of Autumn"
  • "The Promise"
  • "Oíche Chiúin"
  • "Willows on the Water"
Released6 November 2000 (2000-11-06)
StudioAigle (Dún Laoghaire, Ireland)
GenreNew-age
Length
  • 3:38 (album version)
  • 3:15 (S.A.F. pop radio remix)
Label
Composer(s)Enya
Lyricist(s)Roma Ryan
Producer(s)Nicky Ryan
Enya singles chronology
"Only If..."
(1997) 		"Only Time"
(2000) 		"Wild Child"
(2001)
Music video
"Only Time" on YouTube

"Only Time" is a song by Irish musician Enya. It was released on 6 November 2000 as the lead single from her fifth studio album, A Day Without Rain (2000). The song reached number one in Canada, Germany, Poland and Switzerland, number two in Austria, and became Enya's only top-10 single as a solo artist in the United States, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It became an anthem for the victims of the 11 September attacks, with Enya donating to a fund for the victims' families.[1]

Release

In 2001, "Only Time" was released again as a radio remix. The track was remixed and mastered by the Swiss American Federation (S.A.F. aka Christian B. and Marc Dold) with a final mix by Enya's producer, Nicky Ryan. Enya donated the earnings from the sale of that single to the Widows' and Children's Fund of the Uniformed Firefighters Association to help the families of firefighters in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks.[2] Following the attacks, sales of the album and its lead single, "Only Time", skyrocketed after it was used by several radio and television networks in their coverage and aftermath of the attacks. As a result, "Only Time", (the S.A.F. radio remix) climbed to number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number one on the adult contemporary chart.[3][4] In 2002, the song received an ECHO Award for Best Single.

Music video

The song's music video, which shows Enya performing the song in a spring, summer, fall and winter theme, was directed by Graham Fink. It was released in 2000.[5] In March 2020, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the recording, the video was remastered in 4K.

Live performances

Enya performed "Only Time" several times, performances included Larry King Live, Children in Need, This Morning, The View, Happy Xmas Show, Entertainment Tonight, Live! with Regis and Kelly, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and 2001 World Music Awards.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the A Day Without Rain album booklet.[15]

Studio

  • Recorded at Aigle Studio (Dún Laoghaire, Ireland)
  • Mastered at 360 Mastering (London, England)

Personnel

  • Enya – composition, all instruments and voices, arrangement, mixing
  • Roma Ryan – lyrics
  • Wired Strings – additional strings
  • Nicky Ryan – production, arrangement, mixing, engineering
  • Dick Beetham – mastering

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Only Time"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[55] Gold 25,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[56] Gold 45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[57] 3× Gold 750,000^
Italy (FIMI)[58]
sales since 2009 		Gold 25,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[59] Gold 15,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[60] Platinum 60,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[61] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[62] Silver 200,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Only Time"
Region Version Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States Original 6 November 2000 Smooth jazz radio Reprise [63]
United Kingdom 13 November 2000
  • CD
  • cassette
 WEA [64][65]
Canada 14 November 2000 CD [66]
Japan 15 November 2000 [67]
United States 20 November 2000
Reprise [68]
19 June 2001 Contemporary hit radio [69]
Canada Remix 4 December 2001 CD WEA [70]
Australia Original 10 December 2001 [71]
Japan Remix 19 December 2001 [72]

In the 2002 Friends episode "The One Where Chandler Takes a Bath", Chandler plays the song while taking a bath.

In the 2006 Less than Perfect episode "Why Are You Hurting Claude", Claudia "Claude" Casey sings the song to Kipp Stedman, who was depressed after losing his trust fund, to provide moral support, and then he sings along to Claude.

On 13 November 2013, The Epic Split advertisement was launched for the Volvo Trucks Volvo FM range and featured the song and Jean-Claude Van Damme. The success of the ad caused "Only Time" to re-enter the Billboard Hot 100 at number 43,[73][74] and the UK Singles Chart at number 95. Kraft Foods later used the song in advertisements showing parents relaxing while their kids eat Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.[75]

The song was featured in the 2018 Marvel film Deadpool 2, as well as the 2022 Marvel film Thor: Love and Thunder. The song is also played in goal reviews of all Dallas Stars home games at the American Airlines Center.[76]

See also

References

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  6. ^ Only Time (UK CD single liner notes). Enya. WEA. 2000. WEA 316CD, 8573-85739-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Only Time (UK cassette single sleeve). Enya. WEA. 2000. WEA 316C, 8573-85739-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Only Time (German CD single liner notes). Enya. WEA. 2000. 8573-85838-5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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