Maybe It's Time

Album: A Star Is Born Soundtrack (2018)
Charted: 93
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Jason Isbell wrote this spare consideration of just how hard it is to change your life for the better.

    I'm glad I can't go back to where I came from
    I'm glad those days are gone, gone for good


    The song was written by Isbell for the A Star Is Born soundtrack. Hard-worn change is a subject Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper), the character who sings the song in the movie, knew well having spent time in rehab for a drink problem.
  • The song is also autobiographical to Isbell himself. The singer-songwriter, who played with the famously unruly Southern rockers Drive-By Truckers for six years, was persuaded by his future wife, singer-songwriter/fiddler Amanda Shires, to give up alcohol.

    "When I got sober, the initial steps that I took to get my life together, I did [them] because of my wife, Amanda, who was not my wife at time," he told Esquire regarding the inspiration he pulled from while writing "Time."

    "I soon realized that any sort of exterior motivation is not going to be enough, even if it's a person that you are completely in love with. You have to want that type of redemption for yourself to make it a reality."
  • Jason Isbell was asked to write a song that would to be the anchor of Jackson Maine's character in A Star is Born. After reading the screenplay he came up with "Maybe It's Time," which he sent to Bradley Cooper. The actor then recorded a demo of him singing the song and sent it to Isbell on his cell phone for his approval. Isbell admitted to Billboard that he was "terrified" as he feared having to tell the Hollywood star that it was rubbish and then request him to do better.

    Isbell received the demo just before embarking on a five hour flight. He he kept putting off listening to it until he was a good way through the journey. When he got off the plane, he texted back and told Cooper, "Man, it's really good - you did a great job and your voice is good! Thank you very much!" However Isbell didn't realize that the actor had been nervously staring at his phone for hours waiting for his response!

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?

Jon Anderson

Jon AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Jon Anderson breaks down the Yes classic "Seen All Good People" and talks about his 1000 Hands album, which features Chick Corea, Rick Derringer, Ian Anderson, and many other luminaries.

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")Songwriter Interviews

Holly Knight talks about some of the hit songs she wrote, including "The Warrior," "Never" and "The Best," and explains some songwriting philosophy, including how to think of a bridge.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Female Singers Of The 90s

Female Singers Of The 90sMusic Quiz

The ladies who ruled the '90s in this quiz.