I heard this song when I was 13, I thought it was an average song in the soul cages album. Now I'm 40, a died father, and this song turn into a masterpiece for me. It´s like the good books, you have to live certain things to understand it.

"Men go crazy in congregations, they only get better one by one." This phrase has stuck with me ever since the album came out, and it gets truer every day.

"Men go crazy in congregations, they only get better one by one." Love that line.

I'm always crying when I hear this song. My father is coming and standing just before my eyes.

How can Sting be world famous, and yet underrated at the same time? His catalog of music continues to age well.

My dad was a river- sailor. The day of his funeral, after he was put to rest, i went to the river running by my hometown, on which he had spent half of his life, and sat there for 2- 3 hours, just watching it flow. Now, i didnt shed a tear at the funeral- but the next day that tune came up, while i was having coffee in a hotel lobby, early morning. I've heard the song before, but never paid much attention to the lyrics. This time it made me weep like a small child. But, at the same time, gave me some comfort

This song helps me to accept the inevitability of time and my fate. It makes me happier somehow.

one of my fav Sting songs

This song is very underrated

Sting is more than an icon...hes a mastermind of storytelling & songwriting!!

Lyrically this is peak Sting.

All this time and still my favourite song by Sting.

I love you, Dad. I'll miss you every day.

Brilliant, this song is probably Sting’s best. Makes me sad and happy at the same time. Love it, Thanks Sting.

The Soul Cages is an amazing album, which kept me company in a very challenging period of my life. I was 17 when it was released, and very confused, and one of the (few) anchors of my life was music like this. Thank you

My favorite Sting song ❤

The magic of the 80s early 90s...

As a devout Catholic I say there is an immortal truth, courage and strength in this song. Its there, look.

Probably my favorite solo Sting song

What a masterpiece....

I was in the hospital for a week when I was 9. We lived in the country and didn't have cable. But in the hospital there was. This was a big hit on MTV and I saw it a lot that week. January 21st 1991. and it always makes me cry because everything in my little like changed after that.

Thank you Sting, for your life's work as a musical artist and for our enjoyment.

This song never gets old.

Sting......is gordon summer...is genius....in alltimes 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🌹🌹🌹

I love the whole album "The Soul Cages".

He's a poet, definitely!

For some reason, this song hits SO much harder during a midlife crises... 😔

Remember being mesmerized by this song on VH1 Classic right before heading out to school, probably 20 years after it was released. Timeless, underrated tune.

Love the Night at the Opera Ship's Cabin scene that inspires some of this video :)

This gem of a song will always stand the test of time.

I wont lie if I say.... best Sting song

Mixing this song with such a seemingly upbeat video is a work of genius. The whole Soul Cages album may be the most powerful tribute to a dead parent I've ever listened to.

We need a Sting song to trend on tiktok or for it to show up in a popular show & then the world can appreciate this icon.

Spoken like the profound Sting is; Catholic, yet leery of organized religion. "Men go crazy in congregations, they only get better one by one." Tis true.

I remember when this song came out in 91. I was working as an announcer at 5CS Port Pirie, South Australia and was not a fan of Sting or Police but this song captured my imagination. The back story is that he had been contracted to record a new album. Sting had the music but not the lyrics and effectively had writers block. Stings own father from memory was dying at the time. Sting talked to a friend about his writers block and was advised 'you're a story writer, write what you know'. Hence 'All this time'. I'm now working in talkback in Adelaide, South Australia and play a song before I finish. I played this just the other morning as it's son powerful on so many levels. It was also part of inspiration of me taking my children to UK and walking on Hadrians Wall in 2008 to give them perspective. Love it. Thanks Sting.

"Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth"

His best song. It took me 30 years to realize it.

"as these words were spoken, I swear I heard the old man (dead) laughing ..."What good is a used up world.... and how could it be worth having."

No truer words were spoken. I think there is a timeless lesson, and warning, in the lyrics hiding behind its upbeat rhythm.

1991.... The ending of the days when radio still played real music....

“Teachers told the Romans built this place. They built a wall and a temple and an edge of the empire garrison town. They lived and they died. They prayed to their gods, but the stone gods did not make a sound. And their empire crumbles 'till all that was left Were the stones the workmen found.” Love this part of the song. It hits powerfully.

66 people don't know what good music is....

I wasn’t cool enough to notice nirvana, I was into this.

i never really understood this song until i had to deal with my own father's death....thank you for writing this song :-) (it helps)

"what good is a used up world and how can it be worth havin."...prophetic words from the 90s

I love the comedy of this video , trying to get something done and everyone getting in your way

One of my favourite song when I was in Toronto, Canada in 1991... Every morning I listened this from Radio on the way to routine activities ... Time flies

Toujours comme la première fois. Une délice!!!!!!!

In "All This Time," Sting takes me on a journey through my own reflections and experiences. As I listen to the song, I immerse myself in the poignant tale of a shipwreck and the impact it has had on my life. As the ship goes down, I find myself sifting through the wreckage, trying to make sense of the tragedy that has unfolded. I delve into deep introspection, questioning my own mortality and the passage of time. I am overwhelmed by a sense of loss and longing for understanding. The chorus echoes in my mind: "All this time, the river flowed endlessly to the sea." I realize that life continues to move forward, regardless of personal struggles and heartache. Time marches on, never waiting for anyone, and I must confront the fleeting nature of existence. Throughout the song, I search for solace and meaning amidst the chaos. I contemplate the interconnectedness of the past, present, and future, yearning to comprehend the significance of it all. It becomes a personal quest to come to terms with life's transitory nature. To me, "All This Time" serves as a poignant reminder for me to cherish the present, to embrace the fleeting moments that make up my life. It urges me to reflect on my own experiences, the passing of time, and the fragility of all things. Through the song, I find solace in accepting the uncertainties of life and discovering meaning within them. Easily one of the best songs of all time 🙂

So much to love about this song. As a drummer, I love how Manu Katche puts a snare hit on the downbeat of measure four in each verse cycle. A little quirk that kicks the groove in the butt, almost unnoticeably. Manu's playing here is propulsive but spare, driving yet tasteful, and always groovy. A mix of how Stewart Copeland and Vinny Colauita would approach this song.

Sting grew up across from the ship yard where the majority of men worked including his own dad. This song is all about that reality. Sting had respect for this but knew one day he had to get out of there !!

Sting is a creative genius I love this song I'm 43 now this song was from my childhood can't get it out of my head find myself singing it at work thanks sting for it great music

Yo tenía 5 o 6 años cuando esta canción sonaba en la radio. Acá en Chile era invierno. Recuerdo estar coloreando dibujos mientras mi mamá cocinaba el almuerzo. Afuera llovía fuerte, pero mi casa estaba calentita y yo era feliz ❤️😊

Brilliant song.

Great song by Mr.Sumner.

These are some of his best lyrics, IMO.

I was working for the sound company when Sting came to Hawaii in 1992. He opened with this song and it sounded amazing. Best concert i have ever heard to this day

"men go crazy in congregations; they only get better one by one" best line ever

Sting is a BAD MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The river flowed endlessly

Brilliant songwriting by Sting.

Like a silent tear.

keep moving, keep seeing. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

Happy birthday Sting.

I miss actual music... what happened?

Hadrian's Wall, Newcastle, England - Sting's homeland! When I realized this song was about his homeland, I grinned from ear to ear cause it was about his birthplace and that is important to remember. This is one of my fav song's by him, along with Fields Of Gold, Fragile and I'm So Happy, I Can't Stop Crying. I hope he makes some new songs cause that would really make me smile!

Thank you, Gordon.

One of the funniest music videos ever-- and the song's about him trying to deal with his father's death!

This is one of Stings best songs and one of the best songs ever made.

I wish that Sting did more "dark" songs like: The Russians, and A thousand years. Songs i love listening to in a dark winter day :')

Gordon Sumner will undoubtedly be seen as one of history's best songwriters! Great Phucken Song!!🙌 Thanks Gordo!🙏

It was. It was a great time to be alive.

I looked out across The river today I saw a city in the fog and an old church tower Where the seagulls play I saw the sad shire horses walking home In the sodium light I saw two priests on the ferry October geese on a cold winter's night And all this time, the river flowed Endlessly to the sea Two priests came round our house tonight One young, one old, to offer prayers for the dying To serve the final rite One to learn, one to teach Which was the cold wind blows Fussing and flapping in priestly black Like a murder of crows And all this time, the river flowed Endlessly to the sea If I had my way I'd take a boat from the river And I'd bury the old man, I'd bury him at sea Blessed are the poor, for they shall inherit the earth Better to be poor than a fat man in the eye of a needle And as these words were spoken I swore I hear The old man laughing 'What good is a used up world and how could it be Worth having' And all this time the river flowed Endlessly like a silent tear And all this time the river flowed Father, if Jesus exists, Then how come he never lived here The teachers told us, the Romans built this place They built a wall and a temple, an edge of the empire Garrison town, They lived and they died, they prayed to their gods But the stone gods did not make a sound And their empire crumbled, 'til all that was left Were the stones the workmen found And all this time the river flowed In the falling light of a northern sun If I had my way I'd take a boat from the river Men go crazy in congregations But they only get better One by one One by one...

I was a kid living in Baltimore when this song came out. It was my own "city in the fog". Great blue herons, gulls, crows, the inner harbor, the sodium lights, the Chesapeake Bay and all It's rolling inland waterways, It's no surprise this song resonates so much with me. And as a song devoted to Sting's father and his childhood town, I can safely say the same thing for myself.

This video is a masterpiece of depth & lightness. Amusing, kinda furious and hopeful. Cameos all around, and messages... amazing

Blessed in unity!

Brilliant lyrics. Probably the peak of his solo career.

Got to be one of my all time favourite songs. Fantastic lyrics, backed up with brilliant music.

0:58 Sting and Andy Summers' relationship

Great poem song

I had a particular dream about sting and this song. I was at a stadium, and suddenly everybody dissapeared and i couldnt get out. I found myself in the middle of the pitch, Sting suddenly appeared, as if it was a kind of God. He said that i had to choose the song that best described the humanity, if I made the right decision everything would keep going, if not, it was going to be the end of the world. Basically, I had to decide the future of the humanity by choosing a song from Sting. I chose All this time, he then dissapeared and everything went back to normality. This was years ago, but I never forgot this dream. And the funny things is that I had no idea what the song was about at that time

I heard this song in my youth and i swear i aged 50 years.

He's not stung He's not stinging He's just Sting.

Definitely one of the best solo Sting songs but I want to hear the Police version from some alternate universe.

i am in love with that background guitar line. Just amazing

Men go crazy in congregations they only get better one by one.

his best song !

The references are to Hadrian’s Wall of course, cos Sting is a Geordie !!

My favorite Sting song. It got me through the 1990s.

My favourite Sting song, without a doubt!

My favorite!

The meek will inherit a new Earth, Sting.

Gotta love Trudie and her appearance in this one - I think the French maid idea was his ;)

My memory of this song is from 25 years ago. I just lost a girl. Trine. And then I heard this song on the radio. I will forever remember her from this tune.

Saw this tour - Soul Cages in '91. Good tour.

The greatest

"Blessed are the poor, for they shall inherit the earth" This is beautiful.

I remember hoping for this to play on MTV back in the days. Good times.

Men go crazy in congregation; they only get better one by one ... one by one ... one by one.

1991 I think. My freshman year of college. Buffalo State College.