When Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was released in 1967, I rushed out to get the album.
I still have it.
One of the songs that intrigued me most was When I’m Sixty-Four, by Paul McCartney. I was interested in it, not for the lyrics or the music, but the idea that anyone could be that old.
Even my father wasn’t 64.
Looking back on the words, it’s easy to see that they were written in a very different time to now.
A time before Email, Twitter, Facebook and Flickr.
A time before iPhones, iPads and MacBooks.
Hell, even a time before Apple.
When I get older losing my hair,
Many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine?
If I’d been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door,
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I’m sixty-four?
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oooo
You’ll be older too, (ah ah ah ah ah)
And if you say the word,
I could stay with you.
I could be handy mending a fuse
When your lights have gone.
You can knit a sweater by the fireside
Sunday mornings go for a ride.
Doing the garden, digging the weeds,
Who could ask for more?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I’m sixty-four?
Every summer we can rent a cottage
In the Isle of Wight, if it’s not too dear
We shall scrimp and save
Grandchildren on your knee
Vera, Chuck, and Dave
Send me a postcard, drop me a line,
Stating point of view.
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, Wasting Away.
Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I’m sixty-four?
Whoo!
When I’m Sixty-Four was recorded in December 1966.
I Was Only Nineteen, but that’s another song.
