A YOUNGER MANS'S CLOTHES

[Cropduster]

A YOUNGER MAN’S CLOTHES


These tired old eyes, they don’t see very clear
And I don’t understand much of what I can hear
The wisdom of years
Born of blood sweat and tears
Appears to be failing me now

I don’t sleep at all, I eat even less
When I walk I must look for a place I can rest
I fight back the tears
And remember the years
When I wore a younger mans clothes

The things I need most are the things I can’t find
I just can’t recall what was just on my mind
The wisdom of years
Born of blood sweat and tears
Appears to be failing me now

I can’t hold a glass in these pitiful hands
They shiver and shake to a saint vitus dance
I fight back the tears
And remember the years
When I wore a younger mans clothes

There was a time, I’ll have you know
They lined up to see the star of the show
The ladies would call
And I loved them all
When I wore a younger mans clothes

All that I was, and all I have been
Is now brittle bones wrapped in paper thin skin
And I fight back the tears
As I remember the years
When I wore a younger mans clothes



Copyright (c) Allan Cropper February 2015

[Shelley Hansen]

Very haunting, Allan. When I get to know old people, I always ask to see a picture of them when they were young. I find it helps to sharpen my perspective and to see them as a whole person.

Cheers
Shelley

[Bob Pacey]

Still got my bell bottom jeans from my teens Allan and they still fit (JUST )


Easy to stay young mate just do young things.


Bob

[Catherine Lee]

Another poignant one Allan - very good. I agree with Shelley, as it makes me cringe to hear people patronising the elderly, and a photo of when they were younger definitely always puts things in perspective.

[r.magnay]

...I must be staying young Bob, I still dribble food over my shirt sometimes...

[Ian A]

Yes Allan, that is the way it goes. My companion's Mum is 104 now, a bright old lady who sometimes wonders why she is still here. She had to raise 4 girls as the man of the house did not return from Singapore. Looking through heaps of old family photos I was shown one and was told this is Mum at 21. Wow! I heaved a long sigh and thought yes, we were all young and beautiful at 21.

Ian

[alongtimegone]

Happens to all of us Allan, but at least we've made it this far. Billy Joel said it well in Piano Man.

He says, "Son can you play me a memory
I'm not really sure how it goes
But it's sad and it's sweet
And I knew it complete
When I wore a younger man's clothes"

Wazza

[manfredvijars]

Great construct - Well done Allan ...