I heard a song years ago (early '80s to early '90s is the general time frame, I’d guess) that has stuck with me but I never learned the name or who did it. Seated in a restaurant today I heard it again for the first time in forever but due to noise could not make out the rest of the lyrics, only the baffling snatch I’d heard years ago.
The song is a rather sedate pop ballad, typical of the '80s period, with a tenor-ish male singer, reminiscent of the guy who sang “Hey Now” for Crowded House. The tag line seem to be “But time takes that away” or “time takes that away.” The word *time *is hit as a high note when he sings it. Does it ring any bells with anyone? I’m guessing it was done by a lower rated group as it did get some airplay but I hear it played, well, next to never. Note that it is not any take on the old standard “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” which is all that google suggests.
Thanks in advance, I know someone here will nail it.
Another one that doesn’t match your description as well - the chorus of Things Will Only Get Better (skip to the 2:30 point) could be interpreted as the line you heard.
First impression I get from the op is Paul Young’s “Every Time You Go Away”. Sedate pop ballad? Check. Tenor-ish male? Perhaps, depending on how you define tenor-ish. Lower-rated artist? Maybe in the US, but definitely not in the UK.