Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
A melancholic ballad from Rain Dogs depicting street characters and life's hardships through poetic imagery, centered on the passage of time.
Hear it the way it was made
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Moods: introspective, melancholy, nostalgic
Traditions: alternative rock, blues
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 3/10 places this song in the "steady volume" band. Loudness stays within a narrow window from start to finish — you won't be ambushed by a louder section if you set the volume at the opening.
Sudden changes: none. Transitions are musically signaled — nothing will surprise you if you're only half-listening.
Texture: smooth.
Predictability is high — the song telegraphs what it will do next. A sensory-sensitive listener can usually guess where it's going without close attention.
Vocal style: soft vocals.
Where this sits in Tom Waits's catalog
We have 35 songs from Tom Waits in the library. Of those, 12 are rated Safe, 18 Moderate, and 5 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 3/10 sits below the artist average of 4.9, making it the #32 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
Other tracks from Rain Dogs
We have 7 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.
- Downtown Train — moderate DR 6
- Singapore — moderate DR 6
- Hang Down Your Head — moderate DR 5
- Tango Till They're Sore — moderate DR 5
- Blind Love — moderate DR 5
- Walking Spanish — intense DR 8
1985 context
Released in 1985. We have 186 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.4/10. This track is quieter / less dynamic than the year average. Explore more from the 1980s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Why this rating
We rate this song Safe because its dynamic range stays within our low-variance band, there are no unsignaled changes, and the texture and vocal style are both in the low-fatigue range. Our methodology uses an AND rule for Safe — a song has to clear every dimension to earn the rating.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-13. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "Time"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "Time" by Tom Waits?
"Time" by Tom Waits rates as Low-Intensity. Dynamic range 3/10, no sudden changes, smooth texture. Our Low-Intensity rating means no single dimension triggers the higher-intensity thresholds.
How loud is "Time" — what is its dynamic range?
"Time" has a dynamic range of 3/10. This places it in the steady-volume band — loudness stays within a narrow window start to finish.
Does "Time" have sudden or surprising changes?
No. "Time" has no sudden unsignaled changes. Every transition is musically telegraphed.
What is "Time" best for?
In our library "Time" is recommended for: deep listening, meltdown recovery, relaxation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Time" released?
"Time" is from 1985, on the album "Rain Dogs". It appears in our 1980s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Time"?
We tag "Time" as introspective, melancholy, nostalgic. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Time"?
The vocal style is soft vocals.
Should I listen to "Time"?
If you want gentle, low-arousal music, "Time" is a solid pick — Low-Intensity across every sensory dimension.
Songs with the same DNA
smooth texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
What this song means to people
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