Meaning of "Timeless Skies" by Al Stewart

"Timeless Skies" by Al Stewart reflects on the passage of time and the impermanence of life. The narrator's return to their childhood village triggers a flood of memories, from young love to carefree days spent under the Arcadian skies. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing for the simplicity of the past, contrasting it with the inevitability of change and the fleeting nature of time. The mention of lovers' footsteps on overgrown banks and carving names on trees symbolizes the lasting impact that memories can have, even as the physical world changes around us. The song ultimately serves as a reminder to cherish the present moment, as time slips away like grains of sand through our fingers, leaving behind only fragments of the past. The mention of the sun having the moon in his eyes as he wanders the timeless skies suggests a cyclical nature of existence, where the past, present, and future coexist in a perpetual dance of time.