Forty
John Eddie feat. Kenny Aronoff Lyrics
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Houses sit in white picket frames like Rockwells in a row
I've always been a rebel son but daddy didn't mind
He wanted me to chase my dreams the way he did one time
Now he's on the front porch as I get out of my car
And as my father's eyes meet mine there's one wish in my heart
I'm wishin' my daddy was forty again
We would go fishin' throw an old ball around
Wash his truck go into town
We can never go back to the way it was then
Just for today I wish he was forty again
Now we'll sit and talk for hour of life out on the road
What I've seen and where I've been and journeys left to go
Mama looks at both of us "you're like two kids I swear"
Then the stories turn to laughter before the leaving turns to tears
I'm wishing my daddy was forty again
He would be young and I would be ten
We would go fishin' throw an old ball around
Wash his old truck go into town
We could never go back to the way it was then
Just for today I wish he was forty again
Oh, and just for today I wish he was forty again
The song "Forty" by John Eddie speaks to the nostalgic longing for a time when things were simpler, specifically when the singer's father was forty years old and the singer was just ten. The opening verse describes the singer's hometown as seemingly frozen in time, with the same white picket fence houses and a recognizable sense of familiarity. The singer reflects on his past as a self-proclaimed "rebel son" who was encouraged by his father to chase his dreams. The singer is met by his father on the front porch, and the two sit and talk for hours about life on the road and experiences they've had along the way. The song is characterized by a sense of wistful yearning for a time that can never be fully recaptured.
The chorus serves as the heart of the song, expressing the singer's desire to travel back in time to a moment when his father was at the height of his youth and the singer was still a carefree child. The activities they would do together, such as fishing and playing catch, are simple and ordinary, but loaded with sentimental meaning.
"Forty" is a poignant and heartfelt ballad about the passage of time and the elusive nature of memory. It speaks to the universal human experience of wanting to reclaim the past and preserve the people and moments that were most important to us.
Line by Line Meaning
Still the same old neighborhood like many years ago
The neighborhood still looks the same after so many years
Houses sit in white picket frames like Rockwells in a row
The houses look like the ones seen in Rockwell's paintings
I've always been a rebel son but daddy didn't mind
The singer has always been a rebellious son but his father accepted it
He wanted me to chase my dreams the way he did one time
The father wanted his son to chase his dreams just like he did in his youth
Now he's on the front porch as I get out of my car
The father is waiting on the front porch as the artist arrives
And as my father's eyes meet mine there's one wish in my heart
The singer's heart is filled with a wish as he meets his father's gaze
I'm wishin' my daddy was forty again
The singer wishes his father was young again
He would be young and I would be ten
The father would be young and the artist would be 10 years old
We would go fishin' throw an old ball around
The father and son would go fishing and play catch
Wash his truck go into town
The father and son would wash the truck together and go to town
We can never go back to the way it was then
The past can't be relived and things have changed
Just for today I wish he was forty again
The artist wishes his father was young for just one day
Now we'll sit and talk for hour of life out on the road
The father and son will sit and talk for an hour about their lives on the road
What I've seen and where I've been and journeys left to go
They will talk about the places the singer has been and the journeys he has yet to take
Mama looks at both of us 'you're like two kids I swear'
The mother comments on how the father and son are acting like kids
Then the stories turn to laughter before the leaving turns to tears
Their stories turn into laughter but soon the time to leave will turn into tears
Oh, and just for today I wish he was forty again
The artist reiterates his wish for his father to be young for just one day
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN EDDIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
drumhanger
Shure mic sounds really clear and great conversation with you and Kenny! I caught Kenny's 'Steps Clinic' at Wright State Univ (Dayton, Ohio) a few years ago. Very motivating guy!
David Healy
I saw KA at least once with ME, once with JF in Vegas, and once at a clinic. I wish I had one one millionth of his playing ability and positive energy.
stoogman
Loved that one!