Cory Asbury - Good Things Take Time Lyrics
Lyrics
Front porch in October
Time's a'changing with the leaves
Granddad sipping coffee black
He ain't got no place to be
Life makes sense in a rocking chair
Swaying to the stories of a man who's seen some things
He'd say, "Boy, slow your roll down
'Cause I was once your age
I tried like hell to hurry life up
I couldn't ever stand to wait
When you're 15 going on 53
The future always feels like a million miles away
Take a lesson from the whiskey
A little wisdom from the wine
You can't rush real love or trust
And a good friend's hard to find
So slow it down, drink it up
80 years really ain't that much to find
Good things take time."
He'd say, "Boy, don't get hung up
On the ones that got away
The only hearts that find true love
Are the hearts that learn to break
One day you're gonna look back and laugh
And thank the good Lord for the one that was worth the wait
Take a lesson from the whiskey
A little wisdom from the wine
You can't rush real love or trust
And a good friend's hard to find
So slow it down, drink it up
80 years really ain't that much to find
Good things take time."
They take time
Man, it feels like yesterday
I was sitting here with you
Seeing your empty rocking chair
Still breaks my heart in two
I remember every word you said
Like a soundtrack in the back of my head
And now, I know that every word was true
And after all these years I still hear you
"Take a lesson from the whiskey
A little wisdom from the wine
You can't rush real love or trust
And a good friend's hard to find
So slow it down, drink it up
80 years really ain't that much to find
Good things
You find
Good things take time
So, take your time."
Video
Good Things Take Time
Meaning & Inspiration
Cory Asbury’s "Good Things Take Time," featured on his 2023 album *Pioneer (Deluxe Edition)*, is a profound exploration of patience, wisdom, and the enduring nature of genuine connection, framed through a deeply personal and universally relatable narrative. The song opens with a vivid autumnal scene, a front porch in October, where the elder generation imparts timeless truths to the younger. This imagery immediately grounds the listener in a moment of reflection, mirroring the biblical call to honor and learn from our elders. The grandfather's counsel, "Boy, slow your roll down," is not just a piece of advice but a distilled piece of accumulated life experience, a sentiment echoed in Proverbs 16:31, which states, "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is achieved in the way of righteousness." The song emphasizes that the frantic pursuit of future milestones often blinds us to the present, a theme resonating with Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:34: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
The core message of "Good Things Take Time" is powerfully conveyed through the metaphor of learning from whiskey and wine – that some things cannot be manufactured or accelerated. Real love, genuine trust, and the formation of deep friendships are presented as organic processes that require time and authentic experience. This resonates deeply with the biblical understanding of growth and development. The apostle Paul, in Galatians 6:9, encourages us, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." The song acknowledges the inevitability of heartbreak on the path to finding true love, suggesting a crucifying of our own hurried agendas for something more lasting. This aligns with the biblical principle that suffering often refines our character, as James 1:4 assures us, "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." The repeated refrain, "Good things take time," becomes a spiritual anchor, reminding us that God's timing is perfect and that He is cultivating something beautiful in our lives, even when it feels slow.
The latter half of the song introduces a poignant shift as Asbury reflects on the profound loss of his grandfather, realizing the truth of his counsel now more than ever. The empty rocking chair serves as a tangible reminder of wisdom imparted and a life well-lived. This personal narrative amplifies the song's universal message, illustrating that the lessons learned from those who have gone before us are not just theoretical but foundational to our own journeys. The rediscovery of his grandfather’s words as a "soundtrack" in the back of his head is a testament to the enduring power of legacy and the persistent voice of truth. The final iteration of the chorus, with the added gentle imperative, "So, take your time," offers a profound spiritual release. It's an invitation to surrender our anxieties about deadlines and perceived delays, trusting in the divine architect of our lives who orchestrates all things for good, as Romans 8:28 so powerfully declares, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." "Good Things Take Time" is more than a song; it's a spiritual discipline, a gentle yet firm encouragement to embrace the season of life we are in, trusting that the Lord is indeed nurturing and bringing to fruition the very best in us and for us, in His perfect time.