The Songs About Getting Older

[nyadrn]

""Hope I die before I get old," sang 21-year-old Roger Daltrey in 1965—and 43 years later, he's still singing it. Rock 'n' roll has always been invested in a Byronic cult of blazing youth and beautiful corpses. But as tyros have turned into reunion-tour warhorses, rockers have had to come to terms with the ironies—and the indignities and the glories—of old age."

What are the songs that talk about getting older, looking back, etc?

[mccoycd17]

Grow Old With Me - John Lennon

[1968Hoya46]

Silver Threads Amongst The Gold-   Bing Crosby; Jerry Lee Lewis; others.

[BeatleloverKT]

When I’m sixty four by the Beatles

[js6058]

Sunrise, Sunset swiftly go the years

[1968Hoya46]

“Kisses Sweeter Than Wine” (Jimmy Rodgers). The happy saga follows him from a young man dating, marrying, four kids, eight grandkids, now old and “ready to go” reviewing his life with gratitude.

[1968Hoya46]

Spoiler

“The Three Bells”  (The Browns) The story of Little Jimmy Brown, from birth through life to death.

[1968Hoya46]

“The Three Bells”  (The Browns) The story of Little Jimmy Brown, from birth through life to death.

[StephenL413555]

"Hello In There"  by John Prine, a wonderful and somewhat sad song about giving respect to elders 

[PrairieGal2]

I've always loved this one. Voted for it several years ago. Glad to see it mentioned again.

[slyfed]

"Glory Days"  by Bruce Springfdield hit me right between the eyes.

[nyadrn]

---

@slyfed wrote:

"Glory Days"  by Bruce Springfdield hit me right between the eyes.

---

Days of Wine and Roses. Henry Mancini

[sweetjulieblueeyes52]

     SUMMER OF 69 - BRYAN ADAMS 

[dm98065675]

I always like the song " Cats in the Cradle " by Harry Chapin. It tells a story of being a parent of a child and growing old as the child grows up and has his own family. 

[ronsteinacher]

"IN THIS LIFE"  by Collin Raye

For all I've been blessed in this life
There was an emptiness in me
I was imprisoned by the power of gold
With one honest touch you set me free

Let the world stop turning
Let the sun stop burning
Let them tell me love's not worth going through
If it all falls apart
I will know deep in my heart
The only dream that mattered had come true
In this life, I was loved by you

For every mountain I have climbed
Every Raging river crossed
You were the treasure I longed to find
Without your love I would be lost

Let the world stop turning
Let the sun stop burning
Let them tell me love's not worth going through
If it all falls apart
I will know deep in my heart
The only dream that mattered had come true
In this life, I was loved by you

In this life, I was loved by you

[2Papa]

"Ya Can’t Stop Getting Older and Ya Can’t Stop Getting Slower So Just Try and Enjoy the Ride" by the Foggy Mountain Crooners, circa 1959.

[bigblue99]

My Back Pages by Bob Dylan, but covered by the Byrds and Hollies.

[RichDietN]

My favorites about growing older:

"Hello in There" by John Prine

"Father and Son" by Cat Stevens

[rc61653200]

"When I'm 64"  The Beatles

"Glory Days"  Bruce Springsteen

"Against the Wind"  Bob Seger

"Turn, Turn, Turn"  The Byrds

"The Old Man Down the Road"  John Fogerty

Loved them all!!

[guyairmoe]

Cat’s in the Cradle by Harry Chapin. One of Harry’s stories about being too busy with daily life and missing what’s important. Classic. 

[pennyc34]

When I'm 64 - The Beatles

[mh1254]

When I'm 64, by the Beatles.

[kc0513]

Bon Jovi

This ain't a song for the broken-hearted
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
You're gonna hear my voice
When I shout it out loud

It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said,
"I did it my way."
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life

[flatlander137]

Was going to add my choices to the list, but looking over the postings, about everything I could think of has been mentioned. However, looking over the posts I keep seeing those who don't want to think about aging. And I say, and kindly, deal with it. A wise person always considers the inevitable. True we don't like to think on it, but it's still there. 

Life is like a new car you buy. You take cae of it, doing your best with it, but it still ages no matter what we do. And depending on that care, it ages accordingly. But is the vehcle more important than the road? The designer didn't think so. He put side windows in it to see where we are on our journey. And rear windows in it to see where we've been and judge how for we'[ve come. But the most important  is the front window. It's the largest, because where we're going is the most important, than where we've been. Sure we like to have the best vehicle we can have but all age. And some day we'll run out of gas and the journey will be over. But, as I see it, as long as there is a road in front, and the vehicle will carry me, I choose to keep going regardless of the condition of the vehcle. Like the title of one of the songs mentioned, it's the journey, not the destination. You do what you can with the vehicle.

When I'm 64-The Beatles-though not relavant now that I'm 68!

In My Life-The Beatles-played at my brothers memorial, still missed. 

Those Were The Days-Mary Hopkins-for me and the gang who used to hang out at Thelma's Bar. 

[ip3285]

To Flatlander137: Great post, good philosophy, and wonderful attitude! I hope it's contagious to all who read it. By the way, were you a member of the Flatlanders 100-miler running group?

[ip3285]

Silver threads among the gold.  Bing Crosby and others.  

[ma4393]

The Beatle's song, When I'm 64

[LStelter]

Jim Stafford sings a song by John Hadley on the Smothers' Brothers Show.

That's What Little Kids Do

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rThpwvQZ0nc

[LStelter]

Old and In the Way

Jerry Garcia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYETHsxAv8c&list=PLC41D3D7537EA400D

[cesarmuniz]

"September Song"

by Jimmy Durante. I think this the best version of this song.

[pajduska]

Not ever a mainstream song, but really quite sweet: Simon and Garfunkel's "Old Friends". "Can you imagine us years from today, sharing a park bench quietly? How terribly strange to be seventy."

Even more obscure: Jacues Brel's "Les Vieux" ("The Old Folks")