It Was a Very Good Year
Frank Sinatra Lyrics
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It was a very good year
It was a very good year for small town girls
And soft summer nights
We'd hide from the lights
Under the village green
When I was seventeen
It was a very good year
It was a very good year for city girls
Who lived up the stairs
With all that perfumed hair
And it came undone
When I was twenty-one
Then I was thirty-five
It was a very good year
It was a very good year for blue-blooded girls
Of independent means
We'd ride in limousines
Their chauffeurs would drive
When I was thirty-five
But now the days grow short
I'm in the autumn of the year
And now I think of my life as vintage wine
From fine old kegs
From the brim to the dregs
And it poured sweet and clear
It was a very good year
It was a mess of good years
Frank Sinatra's "It Was a Very Good Year" is a nostalgic and melancholic reflection on life and the passage of time. The song is divided into three distinct verses, each reflecting a different stage of the singer's life. The first verse, when the singer was seventeen, reminisces about small town life, and the simple pleasures of youth such as soft summer nights and hiding on the village green. The second verse, when the singer was twenty-one, moves to the city and focuses on the allure and excitement of young women. The third verse, when the singer was thirty-five, represents a peak in life, with the description of wealthy and socialite women who ride in limousines with chauffeurs.
The chorus then contrasts these earlier years with the singer's current life in the autumn of his years. He speaks of his past with a sense of reverence and wistfulness, describing it as vintage wine from fine old kegs, poured sweet and clear. The final line of the chorus, "It was a very good year," is repeated, emphasizing the endearing memory of life's earlier stages.
The song uses a powerful metaphor of wine to represent the beauty and complexity of life. The lyrics suggest that each season of life is like a different kind of wine, with its unique color, flavor, fragrance, and aging process. The metaphor reinforces the idea that life is precious, and we need to savor each moment, as we ripen and mellow over time, just like wine.
Overall, "It Was a Very Good Year" is a poignant and introspective song that captures the universal nostalgia and longing for the past that we all experience.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was seventeen, it was a very good year
At seventeen, life was simpler and filled with fun and excitement, making it a memorable year
It was a very good year for small town girls
The small town life was rife with opportunity for fun and adventure
And soft summer nights
Summer nights provided the perfect backdrop for making life-long memories
We'd hide from the lights
Avoiding the spotlight was a way to enjoy the freedom of youth without worrying about being judged
On the village green
Sitting on the village green was an escape from everyday life
When I was twenty-one, it was a very good year
At twenty-one, life was full of opportunity and adventure
It was a very good year for city girls
City girls were the epitome of sophistication and glamour
Who lived up the stairs
Women who lived above the main floor of their building were considered elite in society
With all that perfumed hair
Perfumed hair added to the allure and grace of the women back then
And it came undone
Despite the great times, some things were bound to go wrong at times
When I was thirty-five, it was a very good year
At thirty-five, life was more settled and comfortable, with greater financial mobility and social standing
It was a very good year for blue-blooded girls
Women of privilege were made to feel special and doted on in those times
Of independent means
Having personal wealth and status was something today's generation can rarely comprehend
We'd ride in limousines
Luxury limousines were the transportation mode of the wealthy and privileged in olden times
Their chauffeurs would drive
People of status and power had their own drivers assigned to run errands and drive
But now the days are short, I'm in the autumn of my years
As age progresses, life becomes more fleeting and limited with less to look forward to
And I think of my life as vintage wine
As life progresses, we can cherish our memories and liken them to fine old wine
From fine old kegs
Our life is made up of innumerable experiences unique to every keg of wine, every barrel of liquor, a new chapter and new memories
From the brim to the dregs
Our life can be likened to a full glass of wine; overflowing with memories of all sorts that we share with those who listen
It poured sweet and clear
Life experiences may have been sweet, sour, bitter, or salty, but in retrospect they were clear, coherent and part of our fondest memories
It was a very good year
Life overall was a joyful, memorable ride, full of good times, no matter the ups and downs
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ervin Drake
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@geminiwednesday16
Even way back in my 'teens I loved this...this and "Strangers In The Night"....yes,I was also mad about The Beatles,The "Stones", The Yardbirds,The Kinks,Donovan,Lulu,Cream,The Animals...etc,etc.etc.........but there was something positively magical about Frank Sinatra and Matt Monro..(oh,how I adored his voice and still do).....I think it might have been that amidst the dawning of the "pop" of the late '50's into the '60's and '70's,such wonderful singers still had our emotions in the palms of their hands. Songs they sang carried so much emotion and meaning,sung in rich,mellow tones,with ease and conviction.
I daresay there might yet be young ones today,given a real chance,long enough,to hear such beautiful songs and tap into the "lost" part of them these days,they might find a love and soul within themselves that reaches beyond the inane "rap" and "hip-hop" stuff!!
I believe when crime hits,rather than prison bars,they ought to be placed for a good few months in a room with constant access to nothing other than a stereo and heaps of great classic cd's such as this.........well,one can dream of a better World through music??!!
"If music be the food of love,play on".
OH.....and......
Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.
Martin Luther
K xx
@tinarusso467
I'm 70 and I remember him singing this song and I saw.. Heard no meaning to it.. But now at my age I understand this song perfectly. Frank bless you wherever you are.
@madpainterken
Me too Tina.. I'm 76.. I started thinking about
the lyrics.. when a good friend died
@marklyon6344
I was 15 yrs old when Frank recorded this. I can remember my mother playing this in the house all the time. Loved it then and now that I'm 70, I still love listening to it...albeit, a little more haunting now. Excellent song...rest in peace, Mr. Sinatra.
@Dave070545
at 76 I remember my father picking me up for visits on Saturdays. This song seemed to be always on the radio. Great memories
@paulineburns2042
I'm not sure when but I guess young I'm 57 I love this
@lindaflowerpower8498
Your mother looks nice😂
@Grandtrunk
Mark, like you, I am in the autumn of my years. I sit here on a crispy sunny fall day, reflecting on my life. The perfect song for our generation
@wendyhardin5259
Was just remembering how I would wake up during the night and mom would be playing music very low. I remember this song.
@mickdarabuka7778
Reminds me of times I was young and my father played this in the car. It me mesmerized me then. I'm old now and it makes me weep oceans. He made me realise that time passes and I never imagined being this age. Young people should know this. I wish I had.
@diane1390
This is one of my favorite Sinatra songs. I'm 70 and I think it's been a favorite of mine for years.