Mercer was born in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. Her mother was a young, white English music hall performer, and her father was a black American jazz musician whom Mabel never knew. At age fourteen, she left her convent school in Manchester, and toured Britain and Europe with her aunt in vaudeville and music hall engagements.
In 1928, she was an unknown member of the black chorus in the London production of Show Boat, but she had become the toast of Paris by the 1930s, with admirers who included Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Cole Porter.
When World War II broke out, she traveled to America to sing in the finest supper clubs in New York City. She also made many concert appearances across the U.S. In the late 1960s, she gave two legendary concerts with Bobby Short at Town Hall in New York City. Both were released by Atlantic Records: Mabel Mercer & Bobby Short at Town Hall, in 1968, (Atlantic SD 2-604) and Mabel Mercer & Bobby Short Second Town Hall Concert, in 1969 (Atlantic SD 2-605). In 1969, she made two appearances on the television program Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
Her original and reissued albums are collector's items. Atlantic Records reissued four of her early LPs in a boxed set in 1975, in honor of her 75th birthday. She was awarded Stereo Review Magazine's first Award for Merit, for her lifetime achievement and for "outstanding contributions to the quality of American musical life." This award was officially renamed the Mabel Mercer Award in 1984.
A photograph of Mercer in later life, from the archives of The Mabel Mercer Foundation.
When Mercer returned on 4 July 1977 for her first performance in England in 41 years, the BBC filmed three evenings' performances and later broadcast it in a week-long late-night television program, a BBC first for an entertainer.
In 1978, "Midnight at Mabel Mercer's," her 1956 album on Atlantic, was praised as "one of the best recordings of the past twenty years" by Stereo Review. That same year, Mercer played at San Francisco's Club Mocambo to sold-out audiences, in celebration of her 78th birthday.
I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore
Mabel Mercer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down-hearted and depressed and in a spin
Poor boy! Poor boy!
Oh, youth can really do a fellow in!
How lovely to sit here in the shade
With none of the woes of man and maid
I'm glad I'm not young anymore
The rivals that don't exist at all
The feeling you're only two feet tall
I'm glad that I'm not young anymore
No more confusion
No morning-after surprise
No self-delusion
That when you're telling those lies
She isn't wise
And even if love comes through the door
The chance that goes on forevermore
Forevermore is shorter than before
Oh, I'm so glad that I'm not young anymore
The tiny remark that tortures you
The fear that your friends won't like her too
I'm glad I'm not young anymore
The longing to end the stale affair
Until you find out she doesn't care
I'm glad that I'm not young anymore
No more frustration
No star-crossed lover am I
No aggravation
Just one reluctant reply
"Lady, goodbye!"
The Fountain of Youth is dull as paint
Methuselah is my patron saint
I've never been so comfortable before
Oh, I'm so glad that I'm not young anymore
Mabel Mercer's song "I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore" is a reflection on the joys of aging and the emotional challenges of youth. The first verse mentions a "poor boy" who is feeling downhearted and depressed, suggesting the emotional rollercoaster of youth. The second verse praises the peace and comfort that comes with old age. The singer is happy to be sitting in the shade with none of the emotional tumult that comes with being young, such as rivals and feeling small.
The third verse speaks to the emotional challenges of love, such as self-delusion and the fear of rejection. The singer is glad they no longer have to deal with this kind of drama. Even if love were to come knocking, the chance of it lasting forever is shorter than it was before, suggesting that experience has taught the singer that nothing lasts forever. The final verse suggests that getting older is a relief because it means no more frustration and agony of unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
Poor boy! Poor boy!
Sympathizing with the younger generation and their struggles.
Down-hearted and depressed and in a spin
Feeling hopeless and lost in the chaos of youth.
Oh, youth can really do a fellow in!
Youth can be crushing and oppressive.
How lovely to sit here in the shade
Enjoying the peace and calm of age.
With none of the woes of man and maid
Not dealing with the troubles and difficulties of romantic relationships.
I'm glad I'm not young anymore
Preferring the comfort and stability of age.
The rivals that don't exist at all
Being spared from imagined competition for love.
The feeling you're only two feet tall
Feeling insignificant and small when in love.
No more confusion
Being free from uncertainty and hesitation.
No morning-after surprise
Not having to deal with the awkward aftermath of a night of passion.
No self-delusion
Not lying to oneself about the state of love.
That when you're telling those lies
When trying to deceive your lover.
She isn't wise
She is not fooled by your lies.
And even if love comes through the door
Despite the possibility of love, with age comes wisdom.
The chance that goes on forevermore
Realizing that forever is not as long as it used to seem.
Forevermore is shorter than before
Time feels like it moves faster as you age.
Oh, I'm so glad that I'm not young anymore
Reveling in the ease and comfort of older age.
The tiny remark that tortures you
Small criticisms that can feel unbearable in love.
The fear that your friends won't like her too
Worrying about what others think of your choice of partner.
The longing to end the stale affair
Miserably dragging through a dying relationship.
Until you find out she doesn't care
Realizing that the person you're with does not love you anymore.
No more frustration
Feeling free from the struggles and stress of love.
No star-crossed lover am I
Not feeling like a tragic lover.
No aggravation
Living a peaceful and uncomplicated life.
Just one reluctant reply
Having a firm rejection towards those who do not interest you.
Lady, goodbye!
Refusing those who do not deserve your love.
The Fountain of Youth is dull as paint
Not finding immortality appealing anymore.
Methuselah is my patron saint
Valuing long life.
I've never been so comfortable before
Finding joy in the ease and comfort of age.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN JAY LERNER, FREDERICK LOEWE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind