Old 97's have been heralded as a great live band. They included five live songs as a bonus disc on Satellite Rides, and released a live double CD set recorded at historic Gruene Hall in 2005, Alive and Wired. Singer/guitarist Rhett Miller has released three solo albums and singer/bassist Murry Hammond released his first solo effort in April 2008. Ken Bethea plays lead guitar for the band and playing the drums/singing is Philip Peeples.
For photographs and additional information see the official website, www.Old97s.com.
Nineteen
Old 97's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I didn't have a reason
For setting you free
I've seen
A lot of love go sour
But that's not our love
Y'see the problem was
I was only 19
Yeah I was only 19
I finished up with high school
Headed to a state school
Wandered into you
Big screen
Kissing in a movie
God you move me around
We got seriously down
But I was only 19
All I ever wanted to do
Was lie around in bed with you
I was only 19
I was only 19
I've seen
A lot of love go bad now
But that's not how our affair
Would have wound up I swear
But I was only 19
All I ever wanted to do
Is lie around in bed with you
I was only 19
I was only 19
The song "Nineteen" by Old 97's is a nostalgic tune about a past relationship that ended too soon. The lyrics talk about being only 19 and lacking the maturity and understanding needed to sustain a lasting relationship. The verse "19 is not the age of reason, I didn't have a reason for setting you free," speaks to this immaturity and how the singer ended the relationship without fully understanding the consequences.
As the song progresses, the singer reminisces on the good times he shared with his former lover. The line "All I ever wanted to do was lie around in bed with you" emphasizes the physical attraction he had for her and how that was a major part of their relationship. Despite this strong physical connection, the singer acknowledges that he was too young and inexperienced to fully appreciate how special the relationship was.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I was only 19," emphasizing the theme of youth and lack of experience. Although the relationship ended, the singer remains confident that it could have been something more if he had been more mature.
Overall, "Nineteen" is a tender and honest reflection on how love can be complicated at a young age. It highlights the importance of growing and gaining experience over time to fully appreciate the depth and meaning of relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
19 is not the age of reason
At the age of nineteen, I was not mature enough to understand the consequences of my actions.
I didn't have a reason
For setting you free
Breaking up with you was a mistake and I didn't have a good reason for it.
I've seen
A lot of love go sour
But that's not our love
Y'see the problem was
I've seen many relationships fail, but our relationship had potential, however, my age and lack of experience caused problems.
I was only 19
Yeah I was only 19
I finished up with high school
Headed to a state school
Wandered into you
I was young and inexperienced when I met you, after finishing high school, I entered a state school and stumbled upon you.
Big screen
Kissing in a movie
God you move me around
We got seriously down
But I was only 19
We had romantic moments like kissing in a movie which felt amazing, we even got intimate, but again, I was too young and naive.
All I ever wanted to do
Was lie around in bed with you
I was only 19
I was only 19
At that age, all I wanted was to spend intimate moments with you; being with you was my top priority.
I've seen
A lot of love go bad now
But that's not how our affair
Would have wound up I swear
But I was only 19
Although many relationships end badly, our relationship would not have ended that way. Unfortunately, my immaturity caused it to end prematurely.
All I ever wanted to do
Is lie around in bed with you
I was only 19
I was only 19
Again, at that age, being with you in bed was all I ever wanted. I was too naive to realize the importance of love and commitment.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PHILIP WAYNE PEEPLES, STEWART RANSOM MILLER, MURRAY HAMMOND, KENDALL DEWAYNE BETHEA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind