Time in a Bottle was written by Jim Croce in 1970 after finding out his wife, Ingrid, was pregnant with their son, Adrian James (A.J.). Croce wanted to capture the emotion of having so little time and so many things he wanted to do with his child. Tragically, Jim Croce died in a plane crash in 1973 before seeing the songs success.
Key: Dm
Introduction:
Dm
Dm7M
Dm7
Dm6
Gm6
A7
-riff
Dm
D7M
Dm7
Dm6
If I could save time in a bottle
Gm6
A7
The first thing that I'd like to do - play riff in reg time
Dm
Dm7
Bb
Gm7
Dm
Is to save every day till eternity passes away
Gm
A7
Just to spend them with you.
Dm
D7M
Dm7
Dm6
If I could make days last forever
Gm6
A7
If words could make wishes come true
Dm
Dm7
Bb
Gm7
Dm
I'd save every day like a treasure and then
Gm
A7
Again, I would spend them with you.
D
D7M
But there never seems to be enough time
D6
D
G
G7M
Em7
A7
To do the things you want to do Once you find them
D
D7M
I've looked around enough to know
D6
D
G
G7M
Em7
A7
That you're the one I want to go through time with.
Dm
D7M
Dm7
Dm6
If I had a box just for wishes
Gm6
A7
And dreams that had never come true
Dm
Dm7
Bb
Gm7
Dm
The box would be empty except for the memory
Gm
A7
Of how they were answered by you
D
D7M
But there never seems to be enough time
D6
D
G
G7M
Em7
A7
To do the things you want to do Once you find them
D
D7M
I've looked around enough to know
D6
D
G
G7M
Em7
A7
That you're the one I want to go through time with. Intro Riff again
Dm
D7M
Dm7
Dm6
If I could save time in a bottle
Gm6
A7
The first thing that I'd like to do - play riff in reg time
Dm
Dm7
Bb
Gm7
Dm
Is to save every day till eternity passes away
Gm
A7
Just to spend them with you
D
D7M
But there never seems to be enough time
D6
D
G
G7M
To do the things you want to do once you find them
Em7
A7
D
D7M
D6
D
G
That you're the one I want to go through time with.