Getting old and enjoying it just fine – in song

Recently New Zealand blogger Rachel McAlpine, at blog Write Into Life, published a post entitled 3 Songs About Getting Old. I’d been thinking about this same topic for a while now, so I thought I’d build on Rachel’s observations.

She expressed exactly what I’ve been noticing, that songs about aging are usually written and performed by younger people … and they almost exclusively focus on what they see as the diminishing physical qualities of the aged, defining us by the horror of wrinkly skin and various aches and pains.  Little to nothing about the richness of seeing life through the lens of someone who has 70, 80, or even 90 years of life experience to draw on for strength and wisdom.  Nothing about the joy of watching the lives of children and grandchildren unfold without the day-to-day busyness and worry their parents have.  Nothing of the joy of sharing each day with your lifelong companion, reminiscing about a lifetime of experiences and adventures.  Nothing about the pleasure of waking up each morning, alive!

Rachel chose 3 of the songs she has been collecting to illustrate her points; her post includes links to the YouTubes of these songs, all worth listening to:

• Getting Older, by Billie Eilish
• Dusty Bottles, by Willie Nelson
• Not Dead Yet, by Willie Nelson

One of our favourite songs about getting old is one we’ve listened to for probably 25 years: Jacques Brel’s Old Folks.  For those of you who don’t know Jacques Brel’s music, you’re missing something.  The closest thing I can think of in describing his music and lyrics is that it’s sort of a Belgium version of Leonard Cohen.  The lyrics alone don’t do this song full justice; you really need to hear it sung.  But the lyrics certainly speak to the notion that younger people see old people as objects of pity, a perception that is sadly inaccurate.

Old Folks (Les Vieux) Lyrics
The old folks don’t talk much
And they talk so slowly when they do
They are rich, they are poor, their illusions are gone
They share one heart for two

Their homes all smell of thyme, of old photographs
And an old-fashioned song
Though you may live in town, you live so far away
When you’ve lived too long

And have they laughed too much, do their dry voices crack
Talking of times gone by
And have they cried too much, a tear or two
Still always seems to cloud the eye

They tremble as they watch the old silver clock
When day is through
It tick-tocks oh so slow, it says, “Yes,” it says, “No”
It says, “I’ll wait for you”

The old folks dream no more
The books have gone to sleep, the piano’s out of tune
The little cat is dead and no more do they sing
On a Sunday afternoon

The old folks move no more, their world’s become too small
Their bodies feel like lead
They might look out the window or else sit in a chair
Or else they stay in bed

And if they still go out, arm in arm, arm in arm
In the morning’s chill
It’s to have a good cry, to say their last good-bye
To one who’s older still

And then they go home to the old silver clock
When day is through
It tick-tocks oh so slow, it says, “Yes,” it says, “No”
It says, “I’ll wait for you”

The old folks never die
They just put down their heads and go to sleep one day
They hold each other’s hand like children in the dark
But one will get lost anyway

And the other will remain just sitting in that room
Which makes no sound
It doesn’t matter now, the song has died away
And echoes all around

You’ll see them when they walk through the sun-filled park
Where children run and play
It hurts too much to smile, it hurts too much but life goes on
For still another day

As they try to escape the old silver clock
When day is through
It tick-tocks oh so slow, it says, “Yes,” it says, “No”
It says, “I’ll wait for you”

The old, old silver clock that’s hanging on the wall
That waits for us all

Pretty depressing, right?  The thing is that my husband and I listened to that song with fondness for decades – before being old – without really giving a second thought to the lyrics as being anything other than endearing.  Endearing?!  These lyrics are simply not true for most people who are old.  You can love your old things the way they are – instead of changing for something new so you can satisfy the need to have whatever everyone else has or wants – and still enjoy your life just fine.  Maybe enjoy it even more so.  We don’t go out to have a good cry and it never hurts too much to smile!  Ever!!  Take a quick listen to the lyrics put to Brel’s captivating music:

As I hope you’ll agree, the music is enchanting, but the sentiments in the lyrics are misplaced at best.  It’s too bad that people live in dread of aging when being old actually has many positives.  Just you wait and see!

Let’s switch to a song that, in my opinion, has a much more positive slant on getting old.  It’s written and performed by an award-winning musical group from my part of the world, David Myles and his ensemble.  His parents and their friends are my age, and clearly they have provided their son with a far more positive example of what growing old can be – and should be – like.  Define your life and your fun according to what you can do, not what you can’t do.

Give a listen to one of my very favourite tunes, When It Comes My Turn, by David Myles:

When It Comes My Turn Lyrics

Well, I’m getting old, but I’m not old yet
I’m already worried that I might forget
How to laugh, how to love
How to live, how to learn
I wanna die with a smile when it comes my turn

I don’t wanna get weary, don’t wanna get bored
I don’t wanna get tired walking down this road
I’ve seen that happen so many times
I just wanna believe that it’s still worth trying

‘Cause I’m getting old, but I’m not old yet
I’m already worried that I might forget
How to laugh, how to love
How to live, how to learn
I wanna die with a smile when it comes my turn

But I know that it’s easier said than done
And I ain’t that different from anyone
I worry about my money, I got bills that I can’t pay
I swear I’m more like my father every day

And I’m getting old, but I’m not old yet
I’m already worried that I might forget
How to laugh, how to love
How to live, how to learn
I wanna die with a smile when it comes my turn

Maybe I’ll start bowling, maybe I’ll play Bridge
Maybe I’ll join a band with my own grandkids
I don’t care if it kills me, I’m gonna do what it takes
To keep some warmth in my heart and a smile on my face

‘Cause I’m getting old, but I’m not old yet
I’m already worried that I might forget
How to laugh, how to love
How to live, how to learn
I wanna die with a smile when it comes my turn

I wanna die with a smile when it comes my turn
I wanna die with a smile when it comes my turn

I hope you agree that this song leaves you smiling and bouncing … and wanting to die with a smile when it comes your turn! 🙂