‘Child in Time’ is a song by English rock band Deep Purple, released on their fourth studio album, Deep Purple in Rock in 1970. It is the longest track on the album, running over ten minutes. The song's lyrics are loosely inspired by the Cold War. With themes of war and inhumanity, the song is regarded as a heavy metal anthem and an example of art rock.
Some of Deep Purple's signature musicianship is heard on this track, with a keyboard solo by Jon Lord followed by a Ritchie Blackmore guitar solo. Ian Gillan is quoted as saying that the song was created "using the Cold War as the theme", adding "the words came easily because we were all aware of the nuclear threat looming over us at what was probably the height of the Cold War."
Ian Gillan said in an interview in 2002: "There are two sides to that song - the musical side and the lyrical side. On the musical side, there used to be this song 'Bombay Calling' by a band called It's A Beautiful Day. It was fresh and original, when Jon was one day playing it on his keyboard. It sounded good, and we thought we'd play around with it, change it a bit and do something new keeping that as a base. But then, I had never heard the original 'Bombay Calling.' So we created this song using the Cold War as the theme, and wrote the lines 'Sweet child in time, you'll see the line.' That's how the lyrical side came in. Then, Jon had the keyboard parts ready and Ritchie had the guitar parts ready. The song basically reflected the mood of the moment, and that's why it became so popular." (Thanks to the Deep Purple Appreciation Society)
‘Child in Time’ was ranked no. 1 on Radio Veronica's "Super All-Time List" in 1989. The song ranked at no. 16 in Guitarist's 1998 readers’ poll of Top 100 Guitar Solos of All-Time. English disc jockey John Peel's 1976 list of Festive Fifty featured the song at no. 25. It was second, third or fourth place for many years on the annual Dutch Top 2000 songs of all time.
Deep Purple hasn't performed ‘Child in Time’ since their 2002 European tour. Ian Gillan is reluctant to sing it because he can't reach the key anymore. "I always thought of 'Child in Time' not as a song but more like an Olympic event, he told Spain's Rock FM. "It was so challenging. But yeah, when I was young, it was effortless. So, we got to the point when I got to about 38 years old, and it just didn't sound right. So, I thought, 'Better not to do it badly. Better not to do it.'"
Label – Harvest (UK), Warner Bros. (US)
Songwriters – Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, Ian Paice
Producers – Deep Purple
SONG LYRICS
[Intro][Verse 1]
Sweet child, in time, you'll see the line
The line that's drawn between good and bad
See the blind man shooting at the world
Bullets flying, oh, taking toll
If you've been bad, Lord, I bet you have
And you've not been hit, oh, by a flying lead
You'd better close your eyes
Oh, bow your head
Wait for the ricochet
[Bridge]
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ah
Ah
Ah
Oh, I wanna hear you sing
Ah
Ah
Ah
Oh, ah
[Buildup]
Ah
Ah
Ah
Ah
Ah
Ah
Ah
[Instrumental Break]
[Guitar Solo]
[Keyboard Solo]
[Verse 2]
Sweet child, in time, you'll see the line
The line that's drawn between good and bad
See the blind man shooting at the world
Bullets flying, mmm, taking toll
If you've been bad, Lord, I bet you have
And you've not been hit, oh, by flying lead
You'd better close your eyes
Oh, bow your head
Wait for the ricochet
[Bridge]
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ah
Ah
Ah
Oh, I gotta hear you sing
Ah
Ah
Ah
Oh, you are
[Buildup]
Ah
Ah
Ah, oh
Ah
Ah
Ah
[Outro]
Oh, oh, oh
Oh no
Oh, oh no, oh, uh
Uh, ain't gonna do, oh no
Oh, oh no
Ah, ah, oh
Ah, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Ah, ah