7 iconic songs about ageing
These days, youth seems to be coveted more than ever while more and more often, older (and, may we say, wiser) folk are pushed to the sidelines. But we think ageing is beautiful, and something to be celebrated. So, with that in mind, we’ve picked out seven of the greatest songs ever written about growing older. Enjoy!
1. “It Was a Very Good Year” by Frank Sinatra
Ol’ Blue Eyes wasn’t the first to record this classic tune, but he did make it famous. Sung from the perspective of an ageing man looking back on his life, Sinatra’s poignant version was released the year he turned 50. “But now the days grow short / I'm in the autumn of the year / And now I think of my life as vintage wine from fine old kegs.”
2. “Time” by Pink Floyd
This Pink Floyd favourite speaks to something we’ve all experienced before – that feeling like time is slipping through your hands. “You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today / And then one day you find ten years have got behind you.”
3. “Glory Days” by Bruce Springsteen
It’s not until you’re older that you can truly appreciate your teenage years and young adulthood, and that’s exactly what Springsteen captures with this nostalgic, autobiographical hit that remains one of his favourite songs to this day. “Glory days, well, they'll pass you by / Glory days, in the wink of a young girl's eye.”
4. “When I’m Sixty-Four” by The Beatles
When you’re a kid, 64 sounds so old and so far away. But, as any 64-year-old will tell you, age is just a number. Sung from the perspective of a young man (and written by Paul McCartney at the age of 16), this love song is all about finding that special someone you want to grow old with. “When I get older losing my hair, many years from now / Will you still be sending me a Valentine?”
5. “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac
“Landslide” is one of those special songs whose meaning changes at each stage of life you listen to it. Whether you’re a parent trying to cope with quickly-maturing kids or a grandparent seeing the world change around you, everyone can relate to this heart-breaking track. “Well, I've been afraid of changin' / 'Cause I built my life around you / But time makes you bolder / Children get older / And I'm getting older too.”
6. “Darkness” by Leonard Cohen
It may not be his most famous song, but it’s certainly one of his most poignant. Written at the age of 77, “Darkness” became even more meaningful upon Cohen’s death last year, aged 82, and reflects many of our fears about approaching the end of life. “I got no future / I know my days are few / The present's not that pleasant / Just a lot of things to do / I thought the past would last me / But the darkness got that too.”
7. “Changes” by David Bowie
Released way back in 1971, “Changes” by the late, great David Bowie is as relevant now as it was 46 years ago. No matter how much we fight it, time changes all of us – sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. “Pretty soon now you're gonna get older / Time may change me / But I can't trace time.”
What’s your favourite song about ageing? Share in the comments below.