Clockwork Lyrics by Laufey

“Clockwork” is the opening song on A Matter of Time. Well, You know that feeling when a first date feels like both a disaster waiting to happen and the start of something magical? That’s exactly where Laufey’s “Clockwork” takes me. It’s this beautiful, nervous excitement wrapped in a jazz-pop melody that feels both timeless and deeply personal. The song opens with her swearing off dating—something I’ve definitely muttered to myself after one too many awkward evenings—but then immediately caving because hope, or maybe just loneliness, pulls her back in. I love how honest that is. She admits to being “irrational” but “self-aware,” which is pretty much the motto of my love life.

The line “I’m shivering, maybe I’ll stay home” hits me right in the chest. It’s so simple, but it captures that anxiety of wanting to hide from potential hurt. And then the panic of “Oh shit, he’s here”—I’ve been there, scrambling to act calm when internally I’m falling apart. Laufey’s delivery here is shaky but sweet, like she’s letting us in on a secret. It makes the whole thing feel intimate, like we’re right there with her, peeking through the curtains as her date arrives.

When the chorus kicks in, she sings about her head being a “wild place,” and oh, do I get that. Our minds can be our own worst enemies on dates, imagining every possible way things could go wrong. But then she says meeting her destiny terrifies her more than anything. That word “destiny” feels heavy, doesn’t it? Like this isn’t just any date—it could be the one. And despite the fear, something beautiful unfolds “like clockwork.” It’s as if love sometimes happens precisely when we least expect it, even when we’re trying to sabotage it with our overthinking.