Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers Deliver a Joyful Tribute to the Bittersweet Passage of Time with “Time Adds Up (If You’re Lucky)”

Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers (JMRR) announce the release of their first bluegrass single since 2023 with “Time Adds Up (If You’re Lucky)”from their upcoming album slated for this summer on Billy Blue Records.

As the band eases into their milestone 20th anniversary, this new song offers a deeply relatable reflection on the passage of time. The track opens with a lively banjo riff followed by Mullins’s lead tenor voice, full of warmth and character, singing the Latin phrase Tempus Fugit, which translates to “time flies”—a sentiment introduced by songwriters Tim Stafford and Missy Raines that strikes a chord with anyone who has ever looked back and marveled at how quickly life moves. In the words of Mullins, “I’m rarely satisfied with the status quo. And I love roots music that is bona fide. Well, I’ve used up most of my Latin vocabulary very quickly.”

Mullins goes on to explain the story behind the song: “I didn’t know what Tempus Fugit meant until I got a wonderful new song from Tim Stafford and Missy Raines, both great artists, writers, and old friends. Missy and I were together with our bands at AmericanaFest in Nashville in 2024. I was chatting with her and said, ‘We’ve been doing this a long time,’ since we got acquainted in the 1980s, as we were both learning everything about the bluegrass community. Missy said, ‘Yes, but we have heard so much great music and met so many wonderful people. And getting older isn’t a bad thing!’ Then she told me she and Tim had a song about the subject. ‘Time Adds Up (If You’re Lucky).’ I had to hear it, and I loved it! The lyrics were SO relatable for me at this phase of life. I’ve been on stage with a banjo and on radio in some capacity since 1982. Now, over four decades later, I have my first grandchild, and she’s gorgeous, by the way!”

“Time Adds Up (If You’re Lucky)” is more than just a reflection on time; with a mix of nostalgia and optimism, it captures the essence of what it means to cherish every moment, knowing that the years we’re given are precious.

Time is slippery, you can’t hold her

Good news is I’m gettin’ older

Let me tell you buddy

Time adds up if you’re lucky

“Time Adds Up (If You’re Lucky)” is now available on Billy Blue Records to radio programmers via AirPlay Direct or by requesting a direct download here. It is also available on popular digital streaming platforms. For information, visit RadioRamblers.com.