“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
When Justin Hayward penned “Driftwood” for The Moody Blues’ 1978 album Octave, he created more than just a song—he crafted a haunting metaphor for life’s uncertainties that still resonates today. Released as the second single from the album after “Steppin’ in a Slide Zone,” this lush ballad marked a significant moment in the band’s journey.
The song’s power lies in its evocative imagery—comparing lost dreams to driftwood abandoned on the shore of sleep, words that refuse to rhyme, moments lost in time’s desert. It’s a meditation on disillusionment, self-discovery, and the relentless passage of time, wrapped in Hayward’s signature poetic style.
“Driftwood” holds a special place in Moody Blues history as the final single featuring founding keyboardist Mike Pinder before his departure. The track showcases the band’s trademark blend of progressive rock with orchestral elements, including R.A. Martin’s haunting alto saxophone that adds emotional depth to Hayward’s heartfelt vocals.
While it peaked at #59 on the Billboard charts, the song’s impact transcends its commercial performance. Fans and critics alike have embraced its melancholy beauty and the universal plea in its chorus—”don’t leave me driftwood on the shore”—a sentiment that captures the human fear of abandonment and irrelevance.
Whether interpreted as a reflection on a relationship’s end or a broader commentary on life’s fleeting nature, “Driftwood” remains one of the Moody Blues’ most poignant compositions—a timeless reminder that, as the lyrics warn us, “time waits for no one at all.”
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Lyrics
Just like the driftwood of a dream
Left on the seashore of sleep
Just like the words that wouldn’t rhyme
Lost in the desert of time
Time waits for no one at all
No, not even you
You thought you’d seen it all before
You really thought you knew
I don’t remember what was said
In the confusion that night
I only know what’s on my mind
What’s in the future we will decide
Time waits for no one at all
No, not even you
You thought you’d seen it all before
You really thought you knew
I’ve shattered the illusion
Of fortune and of fame
But darling now I know you
Life could never be the same
Oh no, don’t leave me driftwood
On the shore
Time waits for no one my love
No, not even you
You thought you’d seen it all before
You really thought you knew
I’ve shattered the illusion
Of forture and of fame
I’m waking up
I’m reaching up
I’m getting up from this game
Oh no, don’t leave me driftwood
On the shore
Oh no, don’t, don’t leave me driftwood
On the shore
Oh no, don’t leave me driftwood
On the shore