What song in the last 50 years offers a similar argument to Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress?''

The song in the last 50 years that offers a similar argument to Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress'' is Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle.” Both the poem by Marvell, and this song by Croce deal with time and its ramifications on love relationships.

Fundamentally, both men are talking about how time passes quickly. They both talk of how time is essential to the building of quality love relationships. They both lament that time passes quite fast and hinders the goal of people desiring never-ending love relationships.

Andrew Marvell begins “To His Coy Mistress’ with this opening line:

“Had we but world enough and time,”

Jim Croce begins “Time in a Bottle” with this opening line:

“If I could save time in a bottle”

Therefore, both men talk of wanting more time – or at least saving the time they do have so they can continue inhabiting time with their paramours.

Andrew Marvell argues that he (or the narrator of the poem) and his lover must use wisely the time that they have to grow and enjoy their common love for each other. There is no time to be coy and reticent about this love. Time moving quickly demands that they engage fully and passionately in their love now, and in every day they are given. This is what Marvell is espousing here.

Jim Croce has a similar argument in his song. In his lyrics he writes that, “…you're the one I want to go through time with.” And so, he is saying that he loves this woman and wants to use his time to be with her as much as he can. He wants the woman and himself to enjoy the fruits of a loving relationship and to fill the time they have with loving hours where they really enjoy each other’s company and shared experiences.

Marvell says that he always hears behind him “Time’s wingèd chariot hurrying near.” In other words, Time is relentless in its moving forward and consuming days – days that the poet wishes could stand still and not waste away – days that he wishes could be never-ending so that he can spend time with his lover.

Croce says that “But there never seems to be enough time…” He is saying that to fulfill all his wishes for his lover, to serve her, and to enjoy a quality life with her he desires unending time so that their love can continually grow and become a real deep abiding love.