3 songs about getting old
I’ve been collecting songs about getting old for a while now. Some by young or youngish songwriters, some by old songwriters. And they are worlds apart.
Strangely, most of them are written and performed by people who are far from old. Those tend to bewail the onset of grey hair and aches and pains or to hope that love endures into old age. “When I’m 64” is a very jolly example of this genre. It’s adorable, but it shows a deeply different view of old age than that of an insider.
I love “Getting Older” by Billie Eilish, which straddles the gap between the young view of old and the old view of old. Very poignant, it is about much more than the title suggests.
Willie Nelson is quite another kettle of fish: he is 89 years old so when he sings about old age, he knows whereof he sings. His 2022 album, A Beautiful Time, includes Dusty Bottles, about the upside of old age.
(By the way, best not click on those ads.)
Finally a hot favourite of mine: Still Not Dead, also by Willie Nelson. Now that’s what I call keeping it simple! It’s the reason why old people are happy to be old: we’re still not dead.
Thank you so much for these very different, touching in their own ways, songs. Loved them all. Poignant.I think I’ll relish being one of those dusty bottles of fine wine, for those who take the time to pour….
That sounds like a fine plan.
Indeed! I so appreciate your writing…. Thank you! I look forward to each new piece…
Love Willie Nelson. Such a talented musician and lyricist.
Thanks for these, Rachel, and the same observations I’ve had that young people seem to be afraid of us oldies! Here’s one of my favourites on the theme (along with Jacques Brel’s Silver Clock). This is a successful Canadian songwriter/singer who happens to live in Atlantic Canada, actually in my hometown. He’s basing his observations on his parents and their friends, who I know well. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R1GCWqWTZ5c
I’m an guy, .. but I found the lyrics of Billie English’s song to be quite poignant ..
And her voice. And the music. It’s all rolled up in one bundle.
A appealing sound for this old bloke Rachel 🎶😊🌏
What a fantastic collection of lovely and poignant songs Rachel. Often when people ask how I am, I reply “Waking up alive is always a good start to the day!” Love and hugs to all the old people. 🤗🤗🤗
Yes, and that is not something that young people say!
My favorite song about aging is “My Back Pages” by Dylan: “I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.” Been the story of my life, thinking younger all the time.
Funny, I knew the song and loved that chorus, but didn’t know the title. It’s a great song about a kind of openness and tolerance that comes with age. I have no idea why he equates that with being young. But hey, it’s. Bob Dylan 🙂
Rachel, thanks so much for making my day. No one can make people smile like Willie can.
And of course there’s the ever popular “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan. Although I’m not sure we can say it’s about getting older, right? It’s the anti-song to that theme, I guess!
Exactly. That’s why it’s not on my list. I liked it when I first heard it, but that was then.
I like the quest for songs about getting old. Now that you have started, I will be on the lookout for more. Thanks.
You may be surprised to spot two very different points of view.
HelloJane, and thanks! I’m so pleased you followed up by writing on the same topic, and the comments on your post give me even more food for thought.