When I’m Sixty-Four
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[Verse 1]
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?
[Bridge]
Oooh, you'll be older too
And if you say the word
I could stay with you (Aaaah)
[Verse 2]
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 (We shall scrimp and save)
Grandchildren on your knee
Vera, Chuck, and Dave
[Verse 3]
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?
[Outro]
Whoo!
About
A song written by McCartney at the tender age of fourteen, it didn’t see the light of day until Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was released.
Still, in the early days of the band when they played long residencies in Hamburg’s Star Club, McCartney would often play this at the piano during interludes, proclaiming “I’ve written a song!” to anyone in earshot.
It is speculated that the song was written about, or revised to include, McCartney’s father’s age which was 64 when the song was released.
Ironically, McCartney separated from his second wife – Heather Mills – at age 64, with a legal settlement of £24.3 million ($38.5 million).
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
When asked who wrote “When I’m Sixty-Four,” Lennon said it was:
Paul’s, completely. I would never dream of writing a song like that.
–John Lennon, Playboy 1980
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