When I Get Old
Descendents Lyrics


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What will it be like when I get old
Will I still hop on my bike, and ride around town
Will I still want to be someone, and not just sit around
I don't want to be like other adults
'Cause they've already died
Cool and condescending, fossilized
Will I be rich will I be poor,
Will I still sleep on the floor
What will it be like when I get
What will I be like when I get
What will it be like when I get old

Will I still kiss my girlfriend and try to grab her ass
Will I still hate the cops and have no class
Will all my grown up friends say they've seen it all before
They say 'hey act your age' and I'm immature
Will I do myself proud or only what's allowed
What will it be like when I get
What will I be like when I get
What will it be like when I get old

Will I sit around and talk about the old days
Sit around and watch t.v. I never want to go that way
Never burn out not fade away

As I travel through my time
Will I like what I find?
What will it be like when I get




What will I be like when I get
What will it be like when I get old

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the Descendents’ song “When I Get The Time” are a contemplation about growing old and becoming an adult. The singer wonders if he will still have the same zest for life that he does now, whether he will still ride his bike and want to be someone. He admits that he does not want to become like other adults, who are “cool and condescending, fossilized.”


There is a tension in the lyrics between wanting to remain youthful and rebellious, and the fear of becoming what is expected of adults. The singer wonders if he will still kiss his girlfriend and try to “grab her ass,” if he will hate the cops, and if his grown-up friends will say he is “immature.” He wonders whether he will make choices that make him proud, or whether he will only do what is expected of him.


The lyrics reveal the singer’s desire to avoid the fate of sitting around talking about “the old days” and watching TV. He does not want to “burn out” or “fade away.” Ultimately, the song is a meditation on what it means to grow up, and on the tension between staying true to oneself and conforming to societal expectations.


Line by Line Meaning

What will it be like when I get old
I wonder how life will treat me when I'm older.


Will I still hop on my bike, and ride around town
Will I still be as active and free-spirited as I am now?


Will I still want to be someone, and not just sit around
Will I still have the drive to achieve things and not just be complacent?


I don't want to be like other adults
I don't want to become one of those boring, predictable adults.


'Cause they've already died
They've surrendered to their routines and lost their youthfulness.


Cool and condescending, fossilized
They've become uncool and arrogant, stuck in their outdated ways.


Will I be rich will I be poor,
I wonder what my financial status will be like.


Will I still sleep on the floor
Will I still be as rough around the edges?


Will I still kiss my girlfriend and try to grab her ass
Will I still have the same level of passion and energy in my relationships?


Will I still hate the cops and have no class
Will I still be as rebellious and countercultural?


Will all my grown up friends say they've seen it all before
Will my peers see me as unoriginal and mundane?


They say 'hey act your age' and I'm immature
They criticize me for being youthful and carefree.


Will I do myself proud or only what's allowed
Will I prioritize my own ambitions or conform to societal expectations?


Will I sit around and talk about the old days
Will I become nostalgic and stuck in the past?


Sit around and watch t.v. I never want to go that way
I don't want to become idle and waste my time on mindless entertainment.


Never burn out not fade away
I aspire to maintain my passion and spirit until the end.


As I travel through my time
As I journey through my life.


Will I like what I find?
Will I feel fulfilled and satisfied with my choices?




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Huri Think before

This song is just too good
I was blessed! I saw both Descendents & ALL in both America & Europe.
"What will I be like?"
4 decades ago I already knew the answer:
The same old punk rocker!

"Young until I die"
7 Seconds
You'll find me in front of the stage!



Migkellys Rodriguez

What will it be like when I get old
Will I still hop on my bike
And ride around town
Will I still want to be someone
And not just sit around
I don't want to be like other adults
Cause they've already died
Cool and condescending, fossilized
Will I be rich will I be poor
Will I still sleep on the floor
what will it be like when I get
What will I be like when I get
What will it be like when I get old
Will I still kiss my girlfriend
And try to grab her ass
Will I still hate the cops and have no class
Will alll my grown up friends say
They've see it all before
They say hey act your age and I'm immature
Will I do myself proud or only what's allowed
Chorus
Will I sit aroung and talk about the old days
Sit around and watch TV
I never want to go that way
Never burn out not fade away
As I travel through my time
Will I like what I find
Chorus



Dalton Hatch

What Will It Be Like When I Get Old
Will I Still Hop On My Bike, And Ride Around Town
Will I Still Want To Be Someone, And Not Just Sit Around
I Don'T Want To Be Like Other Adults
Cause They'Ve Already Died
Cool And Condescending, Fossilized
Will I Be Rich Will I Be Poor, Will I Still Sleep On The Floor
What Will It Be Like When I Get
What Will I Be Like When I Get
What Will It Be Like When I Get Old
Will I Still Kiss My Girlfriend And Try To Grab Her Ass
Will I Still Hate The Cops And Have No Class
Will All My Grown Up Friends Say They'Ve Seen It All Before
They Say Hey Act Your Age And I'M Immature
Will I Do Myself Proud Or Only What'S Allowed
What Will It Be Like When I Get
What Will I Be Like When I Get
What Will It Be Like When I Get Old
Will I Sit Around And Talk About The Old Days
Sit Around And Watch T.V. I Never Want To Go That Way
Never Burn Out Not Fade Away
As I Travel Through My Time Will I Like What I Find
What Will It Be Like When I Get
What Will I Be Like When I Get
What Will It Be Like When I Get Old



Adi Prananta

What will it be like when I get old

Will I still hop on my bike, and ride around town
Will I still want to be someone, and not just sit around
I don't want to be like other adults 'cause they've already died
Cool and condescending, fossilized

Will I be rich, will I be poor
Or will I still sleep on the floor
What will it be like when I get
What will I be like when I get
What will it be like when I get old

Will I still kiss my girlfriend and try to grab her ass
Will I still hate the cops and have no class
Will all my grown up friends say they've seen it all before
They say hey act your age and I'm immature

Will I do myself proud
Or only what's allowed
What will it be like when I get
What will I be like when I get
What will it be like when I get old

Will I sit around and talk about the old days
Sit around and watch T.V.
I never want to go that way
Never burn out not fade away

As I travel through my time
Will I like what I find
What will it be like when I get
What will I be like when I get
What will it be like when I get old



All comments from YouTube:

Artem Perebyinis

I'm 30 today, but I don't feel old thanks to Descendents, I feel young in my soul. Long live Descendents and all punk souls!!!

elnuttero

That's because you are still young. Haha 30...try 50! Oh wait you're like 35 now...still young!

Luis Falcon

30 and feelin' old?! Wait for the 32.... XD

xanaxfordapanic

I’m 18 and I shouldn’t feel this damn old! but I never do in the pit ofc

Larry Shepherd

Punk rock keeps you young.

Chan Jackie

30 is not old at all.

2 More Replies...

Rob Schmidt Barracano

I'm glad this video still gets play, it's a sweet song. I directed the vid when I was a little younger...a lot younger. Descendents are awesome. They were on tour and Milo had strep while we were filming.

EinzelgÀnger 666

No fuckin way!!!!!!!!!! Great job!!!!!!

Facts Be Facts

Sure you did

Rob Schmidt Barracano

@Facts Be Facts look it up short stuff

1 More Replies...
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