Mathis, Johnny - Brian's Song (The Hands Of Time) Lyrics

A real and true love story! God bless Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo.

This was the first movie in which I cried.

Vikki Carr does a great version of this song, too.

Memory’s of this movie as an assembly

If you don't shed a tear...then I feel for you.

The instrumental version is way better.

just can't get any better

If i die now pls i want to hear this song, i will leave this to you as you left me alone in the hands of my time

Johnny Mathis The Greatest. Very special person. Thank You.Mary

Sorry to hear of the passing of the composer of Brian's Song -The Hands Of Time Michel Le Grand he passed away on January 26th 2019 ! He was a brilliant composer and pianist , may you music live on FOREVER the hands of time !

Thanks for this...
....do you think it might be possible to arrange 'crowd funding' for a new stylus for your record deck? ;-)

RIP Uncle John, this song is for you.

My parents loved the song so much and remember the movie fondly.. that when they were pregnant with me they decided to name me after the Bryan, and only decided to change the spelling a bit since I’m a girl.

BEAUTIFUL SONG⚘⚘⚘⚘⚘
FABULOUS SINGER 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Love this song and this wonderful artist who can sing anything. Thank you for sharing this beautiful song by the best singer in the world in my opinion.

Johnny beautiful song. Also a great movie. Thank You Connie. 😍😍😍😍

This movie came came out the summer my grandfather died of cancer. It’s still my favorite piece of music ever...

Beautiful song and awesome voice..

Sadly the time is coming when we will eventually say goodbye to JM!

A beautiful post I just love to here Johnny sing.!!!

The theme itself was my favorite in high school. I had no idea until a few years ago that there were lyrics and that Johnny sang them.

OH Mr. Mathis, you sang this wonderfully, gives me goose bumps. Thank you for sharing your beautiful voice with us.

I absolutely love this song, cry every time I hear it. Had it played at my wedding at the time that my husband and I were taking the hands in front of the flowers picture. Will have it played at my funeral also, my kids know

Another tear jerker for me; "Taking Chance" staring Kevin Bacon. I watched it twice, and cried more the 2nd time. Excellent movie.

UMA DAS MAIS BELAS MÚSICAS QUE JOHNNY MATHIS GRAVOU ! LÁ SE VÃO MAIS DE 60 ANOS DE ESTRADA ! TENHO PRATICAMENTE TUDO DELE, MUITA COISA AINDA EM VINIL ! DESDE O FINAL DOS ANOS 50 ATÉ AGORA ! UMA VERDADEIRA LENDA ! AINDA ESTÁ NA ESTRADA ! SUA AGENDA CONTINUA LOTADA ! UMA VIDA MARAVILHOSA ! NOS OFERECE MOMENTOS DE TERNURA DE MUITAS SAUDADES ! SALVE JOHNNY ! QUE DEUS TE ILUMINE SEMPRE ! IVAN BOCALON

One of the greatest beautiful voice.

Also, only in my opinion; I think Johnny Mathis is the best Male singer in the World fir this type of music!!!

percy 12/37 the best. my dad has his albums and inherited the collection after he passed away.

i did hear so much this song in 1988

The first romantic assembly movie with my junior high girlfriend Alyssa gettler

THANK YOU JOHNNY MATHIS !!!

MUITO BOM

Billy boy Lewis is that all you do is cry like a lol munchkin

such a whiner boo hoo hoo lmao

Johnny Mathis...nuff said........exquisite.

Perry Comi did an equally exquisite cover of this beautiful ballad .

Perry Como...sorry fat fingers on a phone keyboard!

If the hands of time
Were hands that I could hold
I'd keep them warm.
And in my hands
They 'd not turn cold.

Hand in hand
We'd choose
The moments that should last.

The lovely moments
That should have no future
And no past.

The summer
From the top of a swing
The comfort
In the sound of a lullaby.

The innocence
Of leaves in the spring
But most of all
The moment when love first touched me.

All the happy days
Would never learned to fly
Until the hands of time
Would choose to wave goodbye.

I am in tears, this is so beautiful.

This song makes me think of my wife. Who passed away from stage 4 bone cancer five years ago.

+Jason Burdette Bless you Jason. You will meet again in Paradise.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

awesome

Just snapping out of depression, caused by me deterioarating health. Come acroos rthis. Thanks to the person who posted and of course Johnny Mathis.

Johnny is so great for helping depression. I wonder how many of us he has helped to save.

if you have to worry about spam you definitely need a life

And if obnoxious comments are all you can offer, you probably need a life, too. And some manners..

Damned onions :( .

What a beautiful song .
This make me relate of so many thins in LIFE.
Thank you for sharing ❤️

Best version of this beautiful song.  Brian's Song was once voted the Best Made For TV Movie of All Time...and rightly so.  Best Sports Movie of all time too!

Arthur Archambeau the highest rated for the 1971-1972 season.

Thanks so much for sharing this most beautiful version of this wonderful song! I still cry every time I watch Brian's Song, it's timeless!

beautiful music from henry mancini... brian's song

I have seen "Brian's song" at least 4 times, and cried more each time.

Marcelo Klayn no, no, Michel Legrand great composer!!!

I have seen it 4 times, and cried more each time.

I never get tired of Brians song the words gives it more meaning and touches your heart everyone even if u don't like football it will tug at your heart strings Judith Horne jax.fl

Is it me or does the song begin with Auld Lang Syne?

It does

Beautiful Song ! thanks for adding it.

This song gives me so much comfort in a very difficult time.  It's the best song ever written, and Johnny Mathis wraps this song in such great love.  

I see there are 4 posts here that have been marked spam. I read them and don't see them as span but I don't see any way to bring them permanently to be viewed here. If anyone knows how to do this please share it with me, thanks.

Just write to youtube and tell them what you think. There are so many idiots that go through youtube making stuff as spam, they are just nutters that need to feel they have power, don't worry, it's happened to us all. It's a lovely song. 

Oh my, how sadly poignant and beautiful. God keep you always Brian and Gale. Thank you Johnny for saving this jewel for us.

You will never see anything like this on American Idol

may God bless You & yours always!

this was a great movie (very teary). I saw it 4 times, and each time I cried more. I also love American football. mostly college.

God Bless You, you are sooo brave!!!

The movie Brian Song made me cry.
This song reminds me of everyone I have loved from my past.

TamiTrailscapes - Yes, I think the original with James Caan and Billie Dee Williams was the best, they remade it later, I watched half of the remake, to me there are some movies that are best left alone. I agree about cherishing and telling the ones we love that we do while they are here. Life is full of changes and life is very short. Thanks for your post.

frank d - Since Johnny is my favorite singer I always prefer to hear any song sung by him. I'm aware other singers recorded this but to me no one sings it with the feeling and emotion in their voice that Johnny has. Thanks for your post.

I am about your age and I did see this film. My dad has this album being he likes Johnny Mathis. Other singer who did this song include Andy Williams, Tony Bennett, Jerry Vale, Jim Nabors, Robert Goulet, Ray Conniff, & Vikki Carr.

This song reminds me of both my parents that I lost to that terrible sickness. Now my husband will also leave me soon so it is very special for me when I hear it.

I lso lost my hsband from cancer 5 week after her..

I also lost a daughter i got to keep her in my life for 31 years then she die in a car wreck i was a little older than ya'll but remmber when the move came out,thank you.

Hi Sandi -- Oh yes, another one you lost a close relative to that awful disease. My sympathy to you and my prayers and best wishes too. Thanks for your post and I hope you have a happy and safe Christmas holiday, take care.

629ces -- My sympathy to you on the loss of your father. So this song was his favorite? It's great that you could play it for him during his last moments and that you could be there with him. This has probably been the the song that I'm most glad I was able to uploaded. Over 91K people have listened to it, I appreciate the posts saying how it's been an inspiration to so many. My best to you during this holiday season and the rest of the year too, take care.

Hi Sandi -- I'm sure you still miss your sister. It seems that's the hardest thing to deal with in life is the death of the ones we love. My thoughts, prayers and best wishes to you and your family during this holiday season and all the days to come too. Thanks for your post..

metalweb - Johnny was on the Jay Leno show this past Tuesday Dec. 18, I think it was. I hadn't seen him live since I last saw him a year ago in concert. He still looks good, healthy, happy and that great voice is still there. Yes seems this song has touched many, even Don Piccolo Brian's brother posted here. I'm so glad I was able to upload it for all of you to hear. It couldn't be sung by a better singer. Thanks for your post.

thanks Conyelp....this means a lot....

I also was 6 when the movie came out and I remember my sister loving it, Johnny Mathis and playing it on the piano....unfortunately she too died of cancer in 1974....10 days from her 16th birthday. And yeah this song has great meaning...as did the movie...to someone too young to really get it and how the death of a child destroys or can destroy a family. My parents did not go their separate ways.But well it was and is still hard.....

That means I looked him up on wikipedia,

I don't know what wikiing is but I'm glad you found the song. Gees! I can't believe 89 plus people have listened to this but it's such a great song. The lyrics make me tear up everytime I listen to it. This song has been responsible for helping me to take time to look around and appreciate the little things in life like the warm sun on my face, the taste of meatloaf, my favorite food dish. Rest in peace Brian Piccolo.

This song was hard to find in spite of all that wikiing I did of his discography.

Apparently this song has touched so many people in so many different ways as it rightly should. For me, it was my sister learning to play Brian's song on the piano soon after the movie came out. It brought back fond memories of the innocence of my childhood. The good and happy times before my parents went their seperate ways. Thank you all for sharing your stories of inspiration. And yes, have always been a big fan of Johnny Mathis...thanks conyelp.

Hearing this song and reading the comments here are rare, refreshingly pleasant moments of browsing.

JOHNNY MATHIS..GREATEST SINGER EVER...LOVE HIM SO MUCH. Jane in ohio

I was only six when the movie came out on TV, but later I saw it and loved it. Such an inspirational story, and this song brings tears. But the words are also a reminder that the hands of time go on, so we should all cherish the people we love and tell them so while we can. Thanks for posting this!

Brings tears to my eyes every single time I hear it. "Brian's Song" was arguably the best made for TV movie of ALL TIME. The most beautiful part of the film is when Gale Sayers accepts the NFL "Man of Courage" award. Incredible scene. Beyond words. Anyway, I love this song and JM's version is the best!

Lea Salonga did a cover of this :)

I came across this video today simply by way of serendipitous curiosity. I saw the tv movie back in 1971 with my whole family, when I was a senior at Balboa High School in San Francisco. We all cried because it was such an emotionally moving experience. Ironically enough, 40 years after it's release, Brian's Song (Hands of Time) still has a lasting endurance to it. We saw Gale Sayers return both a kickoff and a punt for TD's vs.my 49'ers on 12-3-67 in SF... Brian Piccolo hugged Gale after each!

@amapro21 I believe you will walk again. My best wishes and prayers will be with you too. Thanks for your post.

Brian's Song surely had to inspire thousands of folks. I became paralyzed in 1987 while in the Navy and was told I would never walk again. My son put that great movie on tv in 1999 and challenged me to try. After about 15 months of intense therapy and at the age of 53 I walked right at 50 feet with braces and crutches. Now at 65, I was forced to have two below knee amputatuions. I am once again in therapy and the movie Brian's Song is my inspiration. I WILL be on my feet once again.

@TheDonpiccolo

I sow the movie Brian Song, Your Brother seem like such great guy. I'm sorry for your loss, You and brother Brian Piccolo are in my prayers.

I played this song over and over years ago. A lovely tribute.

I have never been so moved by a movie like I was with Brian's song and I hope the Piccolo family see's this comment because for a man I never met he was a inspiration to me and every one of my friends that played football, Thanks Brian R.I.P. and God Bless the Piccolo family

Absolutely beautifull! God bless.

@TheDonpiccolo Your brother was an inspiration to to so many people; I first saw Brian's Song as a boy so long ago, and I still feel so deeply moved by Brian's story. Thank you for sharing your story about Johnny Mathis.

My best to you and your family...

@TheDonpiccolo Mr. Piccolo, I've read "I Am Third" more times than I can count, and I think I have to credit your brother, with helping shape my sense of humor. My brother Patrick, died in 2000. As with Brian, it's not how he died, that's important, it's how he lived. I wish you peace and joy. Matthew Thomas Columbus, OH.

As hard as it was for Brian Piccolo's family ,think of the speech Gayle Sayers made in that locker room and he still had to play ball , carrying that hurt with him on to the field ,they shared a room for a very specific purpose, they just didn't know at the time what that purpose was
RIP

I named my son after Brian. He was born in 1974. But the movie left such a lasting impression. We had been planning to name him Gabe, but seeing him immediately after being born, I said no, he's looks like Brian Piccolo. To you Mr Don Piccolo, I want to thank you and your family to allow us to see into Brian's life by allowing the movie to be made. He was a true inspiration to so many. God Bless.

@navyfitness my dad has this album which he bought back in 1972. I listen to this song a lot

@navyfitness my dad has this album which he bought back in 1972. I listen to this song a lot

I saw Brians Song as a 10 year old kid and remember crying so hard. I was on a Southwest Flight about a month ago and read the article Gale Sayers had written about the movie being made. I cryed like a baby just reading about it. There were so many elements to that movie and it all started with a great story. My father met Brian Piccolo at Wake Forest were he worked as he managed the cafeteria. He said he was a great guy!

@TheDonpiccolo

Wow, I played against Brian in college. Your post is affirmation on so many things (including Johnny Mathis). Thanks for posting!

mr.piccolo i saw the movie when i was young,and anytime i see it i cry.brian was a great man who fought till the end.i lost my brother 4 yrs ago to cancer an there is not a day goes by i dont think of him.and this song makes me think about him more.thank you again for sharing your brothers story with the world

This song never fails to move me. Johnny was the perfect one to record it, too.

I met Brian when I was about 10 yrs. old & he was already playing pro football. . My Mother (Helen) was a good friend of Gina who was married to Brian's brother. My Mother took me over to Gina & husband's house & Brian was there. We all sat at the kitchen table & had dinner. I remember how nice he was to me because I was very shy. I have seen the movie many times & always cry at the end. What a wonderful tribute to Brian & his courage with this beautiful song & movie.

Mr. Piccolo, what a joy to hear from a relative of one of the main characters. I saw this in grade school and the friendship between these two had such an impact and has stayed with me all these years, and the courage and strength of your brother. Many another movie on this theme has been made, but this told it the best of all the ones I know. I would love the song anyway, but the story behind the movie makes it complete. Thanks for connecting, thanks @conyelp for uploading this version.

The movie Brian's song was the first movie as an assembly movie wjth my first ever
girlfriend Allisa Gettler. Since then we became friends. If we ever got hooked back up My present girlfriend will be upset,

I have loved this song since I hear it many years ago. I now have the DVD and it never fails to move me - as much as the song does.

@TheDonpiccolo

@TheDonpiccolo
Don, Karen here... I am 48yrs young. Never in my life did I see a friendship that was so color blind. When Gayle passed...I had to shed a tear. For now Brian and Gayle are throwing passes in Heaven.

@JPPT1974 There were other singers who did this song including Andy Williams, Tony Bennett, Vikki Carr, Ed Ames, Jim Nabors, Jerry Vale and there was also a duet with Henry Mancini & Doc Severinson.