"You reach out your hand, but you're all alone, in those time passages"

The quote "You connect your hand, however you're all alone, in those time passages" from Al Stewart's song highlights themes of isolation and introspection, set versus the background of the inexorable flow of time. At its core, the line evokes the universal human experience of seeking connection and understanding, only to challenge the solitude that can accompany moments of personal reflection or considerable life shifts.

The images of "connecting your hand" represents a desire for connection, support, and perhaps even redemption from isolation. It suggests an action driven by an intrinsic need to bridge the space between the self and others or to find an anchor in the middle of life's uncertainties. This gesture is instinctual, a way of extending oneself towards possibilities beyond one's immediate grasp. However, the subsequent realization of being "all alone" underscores a poignant contrast. It captures a minute of vulnerability where one is confronted with the stark truth of privacy, emphasizing the emotional weight of not discovering a responding hand, a shared presence, or the solace one looks for.

The phrase "in those time passages" includes another layer of complexity. "Time passages" recommends the unavoidable progression of time, with its ruthless and unchangeable motion that carries us forward, often leaving behind remnants of the past. It evokes passages as passages of time through which we travel, each moment both fleeting and significant. This images resonates with the idea of reflecting on one's journey, the passage of years, and the modifications that accompany it. It stimulates a feeling of moving through stages of life that are linked yet unique, each with its own challenges, memories, and truths.

In essence, this quote by Al Stewart poignantly captures the bittersweet nature of self-awareness amid life's temporal flow, highlighting the solitary moments that from time to time accompany our mission for meaning and connection.