Cyndi Lauper's ‘Time After Time’ lyric inspired by a backward watch?

Lauper reveals in the documentary ‘Let the Canary Sing’ releasing on Paramount+.

Music legend Cyndi Lauper is giving fans a glimpse into the creative process behind her iconic hits. 

In a new clip from the documentary "Let the Canary Sing," Lauper shares a surprising anecdote about the inspiration for a well-known lyric in her 1983 smash "Time After Time."

Billboard obtained an exclusive preview of the documentary, which features Lauper revealing that the line "I fall behind/ The second hand unwinds" stemmed from an overheard conversation. 

"I actually was listening to a conversation," Lauper shared. "Rick [Chertoff, the song's producer] was just standing there and his watch — he kept looking at his watch going, 'Hm, my watch is going backwards. I’m not kidding. Look at this. The second hand’s unwinding. The second hand unwinds!' And I’m thinking, 'The second hand unwinds,' what a great lyric."

"Time After Time" became a chart-topping sensation, reigning supreme on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in 1984. 

The ballad, co-written by Lauper and Rob Hyman, also earned a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year.

Directed by Emmy-winning documentarian Alison Ellwood ("Laurel Canyon"), "Let the Canary Sing'' premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival in New York. The feature-length documentary will officially debut on Paramount+ on June 4th.

"Over the years, I've been asked to do a documentary about my life and work, but it never felt like the right time," Lauper, 70, said in a statement about the film. 

"Until now. When I first met Alison Ellwood, I knew right away I could trust her to tell my story honestly, which was incredibly important to me, and she succeeded in that. I'd like to thank Alison, the producers, and all of the amazing documentary participants who agreed to be interviewed!"

In addition to the documentary release, Lauper is gearing up for her "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour."

The 23-city North American trek kicks off on October 18th at the Bell Centre in Montreal and wraps up on December 5th at the United Center in Chicago.