Jim Croce, an American folk and popular rock singer, wrote the lyrics for “Time in a Bottle” after his wife Ingrid told him she was pregnant in December 1970. The song appeared on Croce’s 1972 debut album, “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim.” “Time in a Bottle” is a poignant reflection on the preciousness of life and the desire to capture and preserve meaningful moments. The lyrics express a wish to manipulate time, saving cherished memories for eternity. After Jim Croce’s tragic death in a plane crash in September 1973, the song gained immense popularity. It became Croce’s second and final track to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Cash Box magazine described it as a “sweet, tender ballad filled with Croce’s magical vocal touch.”