FAWM: "Old Enough To Know"

Old Enough To Know

1 week ago by @alyxanderjames

Skirmish: The 32nd Page (@gruvmachine)

Old Enough To Know

alyxanderjames

00:00

Liner Notes

Once again, wasn't sure if I was going to write today, but this #skirmish was intriguing! The book I pulled off the shelf was "All The Birds in the Sky" by Charlie Jane Anders, and the line on the 32nd page that popped out to me was, "When Laurence was old enough to do what he liked, he would be old enough to understand he couldn't do what he liked."

I want to preface this one by saying that while there's a lot of truth here, it's also much darker than how I actually feel about my life. My life hasn't turned out anything like I imagined at eight, or sixteen, or twenty-one, and even my thirties have held plenty of surprises. But I wouldn't trade the life I have for anything.

All of that said, I think it's a pretty universal experience to have dreams not pan out the way we expect them to, often because we don't understand how what we're wishing for might be impacted by material reality (particularly when we're kids and don't understand things like, "cars and gas are expensive").

#folk #PersonWithGuitar #acoustic #AcousticOneTake

Lyrics

I remember being eight
Wishing desperately for twice as many years
So I could drive myself away

And when I was sixteen
I wanted nothing more than to be grown
So I could chase all of my dreams

When I was twenty-one
I swore that freedom was within my reach
That I had earned a little fun

My thirties came around
And brought responsibilities and debt
And work that drove me to the ground

Now I'm old enough to do what I want to do
And I'm old enough to know that's not quite true

Comments

@bradbrubaker 4d

Something about that fourth line of each stanza (or the lack thereof) being something unsaid is powerful. Sad tune, sad conclusion.

@skylermf 6d

I love this interpretation of the line as a through line in the narrator’s life! The guitar part is very nice too

@coolparadisoMod 1w

Great line to pick up, how true! Very clever write! Really enjoyable listen.

@thwingbill 1w

Nice take on page 32. Your simple basic picking is similar to mine and the seasons of your life iare totally credible if not completely you. Good job

@cjk 1w

Good song, very true lyrics. But not as dark as you said it would be.

@gruvmachine 1w

Great tune! Great prompt line, too. The growing over each verse thing is great and well-executed, something I've tried in the past with meh results... Well done!

@eric 1w

Lovely take. I like the concept of checking in at different ages and changing perspectives as you go. Upon first listen, it seems that the final stanza could almost be a chorus that you introduce earlier in the song, with maybe a few modifications. Really enjoyed it.

@sherrycanary 1w

In a certain way, this reminds me of Joni's Clouds.
Really good take on what you zoned in on Page 32. Nice picking and music too

@kahlo2013 1w

This is really lovely and deeply moving. The heartfelt vulnerability that is expressed with the insight reaches in deep. The guitar finger picking is a beautiful stage for the haunting melody that you deliver so gorgeously. Really well done!

@musicsongwriter 1w

Beautifully written lyrics, truthful and deep. Very beautiful guitar and singing, wonderful to listen too. Melancholic, thoughtful and calming. Very good taste on the prompt ❤️

@lemonbrew 1w

Great song! Has a lot of feeling.

@gordon 1w

This was indeed an interesting prompt and you have really nailed it from that opening line. It's melancholy, but in a good way if you know what I mean. It sounds like someone who has accumulated wisdom through the years. Really beautiful song and great skirmishing!