Please tell me you’ve heard the song We are Young by FUN. The damn thing is stuck in my head. Sure, its a catchy tune but I think its the chorus that resonates with me:
Tonight, we are young so let’s set the world on fire. We can burn brighter than the sun. ÂDo you remember being in college, feeling free, strong, like you could conquer the world, do ANYTHING, BE anything you wanted? Oh sure, I wasn’t going to be president or lead a rally to change laws or start a charity to feed the hungry but I believed I could get the dream job, find the perfect partner, LIVE THE LIFE.
And I kept on believing into my early 30′s. I didn’t buy a home until I was 31, didn’t get married until I was 32, kids at 35. I put getting older on hold until now. I drank myself stupid more times than I can count, I drove days to be with ex-boyfriends that reminded me within minutes of arriving why they were my exes (yes, I had to learn this lesson a couple of times), I hopped in a car and went rock climbing with strangers, BECAUSE I COULD. And don’t get me started on all my late night shenanigans. Never once did I think about “getting old”. I often had to do the math to know the answer to “how old are you?”
The three years of trying to have Maddy, the binky-weaning and now, gah, NIGHTS, have aged me faster than those 12 beer guzzling, late night shenanigin-filled years did. I look tired all the time. I don’t have the energy or time to put into my appearance. And I certainly don’t have the burning desire to burn the candle at both ends to get that high that came so easily just a scant 5 years ago.
But in the big picture view of things, 5 years ago isn’t so long ago. And while I’m not setting anything but dinner on fire these days, for the scant three minutes this song in on the air, I can remember, sing along and feel young…er.
Do you have a song that gets you angsty about the days gone by or the wrinkles scrambling across your face?
I have a childless friend who is two years older than me and looks ten years younger.
But I love that song and it takes me back to the time when I had the energy to set the world on fire.
So, so, so long ago.
I don’t need a song to fret about that stuff… but I have plenty of songs that make me forget it!
Cameron recently posted..The Story Circle: Dance With the Devil, Part 2
I can listen to an oldies station and feel happy, sick, sad and lonesome at the same time.
Spirit of ’76 by the Alarm gives me a similar vibe. We are young makes me feel outright old!
andrea recently posted..L is for Legos
All Bon Jovi songs make me feel young – or whistful for youth, anyway – and “Where You Goin Now” (Damn Yankees) makes me remember what it felt like to be 19. However, let my also reassure you that once that sweet little boy is closer to 5, you will be right back to burning the candle at both ends. We recover from having small children (eventually) and get to be our old (or in our case, YOUNG) selves again. xo
Jessica recently posted..Swing into Spring
That song, for me, is Metallica’s Fuel
Gi Me Few
Gi me Fai
Gi me tha whi I dee sai!
I can still remember the parties, the drunken nights, perhaps a hookup or two because, damn, Mel can sing the song word for word — and after a few beers, her voice has a bigger growl to it than James Hetfield’s voice does.
Now, I hear it, and it gets stuck in my head . . . and I realize that I probably don’t want my kids ever hearing the song, or knowing any of the memories that the song evokes.
Also? Sheryl Crow’s cover of Sweet Child of Mine makes me feel impossibly old.
And lastly? We love you.
John recently posted..Where I remind myself that scale only reports a number
I love it when songs bring to life memories of the past and that feeling we can do anything.
Jessica recently posted..From Diaper Bag To Handbag
Okay, I loved this post. Set the world on tepid – HA! At best, I’m setting the world on tepid right now.
So many songs are about youth these days, and like you, I feel a post a coming!
This lovely music complete my whole day long, I do love listening this type and cherish the beautiful memories I get it at the young times…
Evelyn recently posted..WSO Reviews
Seriously good post. I’m 12+ years into kids and all exhausted as hell, especially during sports season. But, when that song comes on it seems like college days were just yesterday. How the hell did I get so old! and tired… and cranky…. but I wouldn’t trade it for the world because seriously how lame would I look doing what I did in college at my age right now. Thank God for the kids.
-Val
I love you!
Kelly Tirman recently posted..Super Cute and Easy DIY- Perfect for the Kiddos.
Oh I just love that song too – always blast it (although what’s the deal with the scar lyric?) – it makes me feel young for the three minutes it’s on, until it ends and I’m back to being a hugely pregnant, wrinkly mother of many. Ah well. Circle of life, right?!
Anything by Pink Martini. They remind me of my fake ID teenage years (probably because I would use said ID to go to their shows and political rallies).
I don’t have kids…or a job…but living here makes me feel so much older and trapped than I probably am.
Smedette recently posted..Brie