Time Will Crawl

Infobox Single
Name = Time Will Crawl


Caption =
Artist = David Bowie
from Album = Never Let Me Down
A-side =
B-side = Girls
Released = June 1987
Format = 7"/12" single
Recorded = Mountain Studios, Montreux, Autumn 1986
Genre = Rock/Pop
Length = 4:18
Label = EMI
EA237
Writer =
Producer = David Bowie, David Richards
Certification =
Last single = "Day-In Day-Out"
1987
This single = "Time Will Crawl"
1987
Next single = "Never Let Me Down"
1987
Misc =

Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Remix 12" cover
Type = single


Lower caption =

"Time Will Crawl" is a track on David Bowie's album "Never Let Me Down". It was issued as a second single from the album.

The lyric is themed around the pollution and destruction of the planet by industry (Bowie has cited hearing of the Chernobyl disaster in April 1986 as the genesis of the lyric), and is often praised by critics for its restrained production compared to Bowie’s other work of the era. The video clip, directed by Tim Pope, was made during rehearsals for Bowie’s Glass Spider Tour. Mimicking a fly-on-the-wall documentary, this would preview some of the elaborate routines used on the tour, and also features tour guitarist Peter Frampton – though he does not actually appear on the recording itself.

The single reached #33 on the UK charts.

Track listing

All tracks written by Bowie

7": EMI / EA237 (UK)

# "Time Will Crawl" – 4:18
# "Girls" – 4:13

12": EMI / 12EA237 (UK)

# "Time Will Crawl (Extended Dance Mix)" – 6:03
# "Time Will Crawl" – 4:18
# "Girls (Extended Edit)" – 5:35

* Extended Dance Mix by David Richards

12": EMI / 12EAX237 (UK)

# "Time Will Crawl (Dance Crew Mix)" – 5:43
# "Time Will Crawl (Dub)" – 5:23
# "Girls (Japanese version)" – 4:06

12": EMI / V-19247 (US)

# "Time Will Crawl (Extended Dance Mix)" – 6:03
# "Time Will Crawl" – 4:18
# "Girls (Extended Edit)" – 5:35
# "Girls (Japanese version)" – 4:06

Download: EMI / iEA237 (UK)

# "Time Will Crawl" – 4:18
# "Girls" – 4:13
# "Time Will Crawl (Extended Dance Mix)" – 6:03
# "Time Will Crawl (Dub)" – 5:23
# "Girls (Extended Edit)" – 5:35

* released 2007

Download: EMI / iEAX237 (UK)

# "Time Will Crawl" – 4:18
# "Girls (Japanese version)" – 4:06
# "Time Will Crawl (Dance Crew Mix)" – 5:43
# "Time Will Crawl (Dub)" – 5:23
# "Girls (Extended Edit)" – 5:35

* released 2007

Production credits

* Producers:
** David Bowie
** David Richards

* Musicians:
** David Bowie: Vocals
** Carlos Alomar: Guitar
** Sid McGinnis: Guitar
** Erdal Kizilcay: Bass, Drums, Keyboards

Cover versions

* Burning Gates - "The Dark Side of David Bowie: A Tribute to David Bowie" (1997)

Chart positions

References

Pegg, Nicholas, "The Complete David Bowie", Reynolds & Hearn Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-903111-14-5