As we transition from old to new, I thought this might be a good send off..

I wrote this when I was 25. It takes on new meaning as I sing it 35 years later.



WHAT AN OLD MAN MUST THINK

the days don't seem quite so long
i seldom sleep real sound
it occurs to me it's colder now
when the woods are turning brown
i don't run the way i once did
the kids all drive so fast
i can offer much too much advice
if anyone should ask
i used to wonder
what an old man must think

where were you in '62
what time does that clock say
you young folks think we're stupid
and only in the way
years take a toll
are you so sure you're immune
let me tell you, ah, what's the use
in time you'll know my tune
i used to wonder
what an old man must think

when the church bells toll, i pray
i haven't lost a friend
i've yet to know an answer
to why a good man's life must end
don't get me wrong
i'm not through by any means
strike up that guitar
hear the joy when i sing
i used to wonder
what an old man must think


The Band:
RealTracks in song: 1036:Bass, Electric, NorthernRockBallad Ev 065
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 2231:Piano, Rhythm 80sPopBallad Ev 085
RealTracks in song: ~1676:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CountryBrent Ev 065
RealTracks in song: ~364:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 065
MIDI SuperTracks in song: 2058:Strings, Rhythm CelticAir Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 1856:Cello, Background PopCountry Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 2336:Viola, Background, Pop Ev 085 (1TrackStringSection)


Happy New Year, Y'all...

floyd

Amen!!
Wonderful, as always and very a propos for us of a certain age.
Amazingly thoughtful lyrics for one of 25 years and so relevant.
Your work has been stunning all year and I'm looking forward to 2016.
Happy New Year
Ian

Hi Floyd.

A fabulous track which leaves me wondering how someone could write with such insight and wisdom at the age of 25.

Everything works well in the arrangement and mix and as usual your vocal delivery is superb.

I noticed a couple of small clicks at 2.37 - not sure what they were?

Have a great 2016.

ROG.

Hi Floyd,

Rog expressed my thoughts "A fabulous track which leaves me wondering how someone could write with such insight and wisdom at the age of 25."
A beautiful song.

Guenter

Wow, that's a stunning piece Floyd. The lyrics are up there with the prescience of Jackson Browne. The whole things is perfect and very moving. Music like this deserves to be widely heard. Superb.

John

One of my favorites you have done. Very insightful lyrics especially at 25. First class tune

This is a very touching song and a great production. I love the vocal phrasing. Quite the vintage wine, eh??

Beautifully done!! The arrangement and emotion in the vocal are totally captivating. When I was 25, I didn't think much about anything other than where the party was that night. This is deeply insightful writing. I'm really glad you reincarnated it. It is a beautiful song!! Take care. Greg

Another great tune from FJ. I've got two years on you at 62 and still keep trying. Most of the songs I have posted on Soundcloud are lyrics from the early eighties but I have written quite a few new ones since Band in a Box, (that's a plug, lol) Again a great song and mixed to perfection as usual!!

Great song as usual

very intimate lyrics and music.

Happy new year to you.

Sergio

Thanks, Ian!




I appreciate that, ROG. The "clicks" are finger noise on the strings in one of the acoustic guitar tracks...

fj,


I like this one a lot.

"the days don't seem quite so long"


Great line, and boy, can I relate!

Happy New Year!


Regards,

Bob

I still wonder what an old man thinks! As a youngster, folks the age I am now seemed to be O L D.

Mentally, I still think I'm thirty. It's not until the heavy lifting that I realize I got off at the wrong train stop.

Good song. The lyrics are very well written and you have a fitting arrangement in the music.

Your vocal phrasing at the very beginning of the line, "When the church bell tolls..." I thought you may be giving us a surprise and the verse was going to be conversational rather than singing. Didn't happen, but might have fit in nice.

Enjoyed this -- even with the line or two that were too close to dodge.

Where did the time go?

Great song and a good start to the new year.

Now I know what an old man must think.

Simply beautiful! The lyrics, the vocal, the band. What more can we say...apart from that this is a class entry for 2016!

Left me hangin. I wanted another verse. Something more - now from your current perspective. Please consider expanding this "old" song. I am sure we would all enjoy.

Oh I was so much older then I'm younger than that now! floyd, This was a very sophisticated write for someone only 25. Very heartfelt delivery and great strings. Perfect arrangement and mix. From one old man to another, Happy New Year and may we have many more. Tom

Floyd
Beautifully crafted and as noted excellent lyrics.
You certainly have a knack for writing songs of real substance (even at 25).

Hi Floyd ...

Just wait until you catch up with us ... we're just months away from 70 ... yep!

The insightful wisdom in your lyric is amazing. And your vocal delivery never fails to mesmerize. You have a unique and wonderful voice. Me (Alan) being an old man now, I can certainly fall right into this one.

We like the way you built the layers. That only adds to the anticipation of what's to come.

Great job ... one of our very favorites from you. Have a fabulous 2016!

Alan & Di

Top notch writing and performing. It's a good song for us to contemplate. A great example of "timeless" writing. Means as much today as it would have 35 years ago.

Guenter - thanks, as always... (about time for another from you!!)




Wow, John - thank you for that... I truly appreciate it...

Floyd you always come up with an exceptional song and this is no exception. Today is my birthday and I have turned 69. I guess that qualifies me as an old man but I have to tell you (as an old man) I think that you are a terrific song writer and musician and I always look forward to what you have to send our way.
Sonny

Wow, wonderful songwriting! And only 25 when you wrote it too, very impressive.

Age here is 61, so I guess I'm an old man :P

Good song, enjoyed the listen!

Thanks, Scott... glad you liked it..

Thanks, David...




LOL. Always pleased to catch your ear, Greg... and to dreg up some good, old memories...

Thanks, Steve - always good to have you drop by... appreciate it...



Thanks, Sergio...

Wonderful Floyd. It must be so interesting for a song writer like you to revisit songs that you wrote all those years ago. I would love to hear the first song you ever wrote and to know what age you were when you wrote it. I do hope you have an awesome 2016.

Thanks, Bob! Time is flying by, isn't it???




Thanks, Charlie - You made it to 30? I got stuck at 26, I'm fairly certain... I was never much good at the "talkie" songs... I was a huge Glen Campbell fan and I did not care for "Honey, Come Back" - I think that "put me off" those..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORUXIp6X1k4




Thanks, Herb - Appreciate that.

Thanks, guys... appreciate the support.

Hi, Dan! Thanks for listening... I don't know, I stopped writing songs with 3 verses a very long time ago... not sure I could do four...




Thanks, Tom. At 25, I had the sense I was late. All my songwriting heroes at the time (Prine, JT, JB, other JB) had all made by the time they were 24... Happy New Year!...

Thank you, Peter...




Appreciate it, Alan. I figure as long as I can keep doing new stuff - which BIAB helps a bunch - then there's still a reason to get up in the morning Having a good time exploring styles in the 2016! Hope y'all are doing well...

Thanks, Kevin... nice of you to say... I need a nap

Floyd,
What an exceptionally thoughtful lryic for a young man to write. Our old songs from decades past are like time capsuals we left ourselves.
Thanks for sharing
SD

Beautiful Floyd. It depends on the old man.

Dean

Happy (belated) Birthday, Sonny! Thanks for the kind words...




Thanks, Dave. I appreciate that. Looking forward to some more stuff from you...





Thanks, Joanne. I can still remember a few lines of the first song I wrote - at 15... Trust me, you do not want to hear it...

Someone in the business once told me to keep every lyric and every melody. Perhaps you heard that too, or you just knew it. I'm glad you kept this one close.

Timeless.

Wow! What lyric to contemplate as another year begins.
Where was I in '62? Mainly just being 16 and everything that goes
with that. I thought my grandparents were ancient then when they
were the age I am now.

To have songs that you have written through your adult
life must be a real treasure...lots of "then and now" thoughts
in them I'm sure as you peruse the catalog. As others
have said and we join in with it's nice that you brought this
one back. I listened several times on my recent b'day.

It's a gem of lyric that shines even brighter with the fj
vocals, arrangement and production treatment.

Thanks for sharing this and particularly so for this time
of year!

J&B

Janice is fond of "don't grow up...it's a trap"

I'm new here and this is the first piece I've listened to. Yes, it speaks to me.

I'm impressed you even conceived of this theme at 25. The music, tempo, everything blends well. It'll stick in my memory for a long time.

Many of my lyrics touch on age-related issues too. But I only just started writing songs 2 years ago, so I don't dwell there...

I'm new here and this is the first piece I've listened to. Yes, it speaks to me.

I'm impressed you even conceived of this theme at 25. The music, tempo, everything blends well. It'll stick in my memory for a long time.

Many of my lyrics touch on age-related issues too. But I only just started writing songs 2 years ago, so I don't dwell there...

Beautifully written and recorded, speaks to my heart.
So damned good.
Kenny

Thanks, SD. That almost sounded like you were writing a song!





Dean - thanks for dropping by. I appreciate it... indeed...I try to write "younger" all the time!! Hope you are doing well...






There are some that should be kept - even if they don't work at the time.
But I would guess that I have thrown away between 200-300 songs along the way. Some things aren't worth keeping. I appreciate you stopping in for a listen, Scott...

Hi, Floyd !

This shows what a masterful
writer you´ve been from the
very beginning !

What a very beautiful song
and so wonderfully treated !

Your song touches me deeply !

Cheers
Dani

Thanks, Bud - I appreciate your thoughtful review. Don't let that girl grow up.... we need her youthful exuberance...




Dina - I'm glad you came by for a listen... thanks...

Appreciate that, Kenny. Great to see ya back!





Thanks, Dani... it's always nice to have someone say a song touches them.. nothing better than that... Great to see you back, too...

floyd,
that is beautiful, what a great song to write all those years ago, you obviously are a natural so how, and why, did the music Biz miss you???
I'd really like to hear the first song you wrote.

All the others have said what I feel, so I just add BRILLIANT!

Alyn
ps you are older than I thought but still a mere youngster compared to me
Keep 'em coming!

I just found this haunting to thing think you song this many years later as written by your younger self. WOW!

How often does that occur?

Seems like you've had this gift for a while my friend!