Silverstein's passion for music was clear early on as he studied for a while at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. As a songwriter, Silverstein kept a low profile but cast a long shadow. He tended to shun publicity and even photographers. Nonetheless, his musical output included many songs which were hits for other artists. Most notably, he wrote the music and lyrics for "A Boy Named Sue" that was performed by Johnny Cash (for which he won a Grammy in 1970); "One's on the Way" (which was a hit for Loretta Lynn), and "The Unicorn Song" which, despite having nothing to do with Ireland nor Irish culture, became the signature piece for The Irish Rovers in 1968 and is popular in pubs all over the world to this day. He wrote the lyrics and music for most of the Dr. Hook songs, including "Cover of the Rolling Stone", "Freakin' at the Freakers' Ball", "Sylvia's Mother", and the cautionary song about VD, "Don't Give a Dose to the One You Love Most". He also wrote many of the songs performed by Bobby Bare, including "Marie Laveau", "Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe", "The Mermaid", "The Winner", and "Tequila Sheila". The song "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan",] recorded in 1979 by Marianne Faithfull and later featured in the films Montenegro and Thelma & Louise, was also by Silverstein.
A Couple More Years
Shel Silverstein Lyrics
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I've had more chances to fly and more places to fall.
And it ain't that I'm wiser,
It's only that I've spent more time with my back to the wall.
And I've picked up a couple more years on you, baby.. that's all.
I've walked a couple more roads than you, baby,that's all.
And I'm tired of runnin' while you're only learning to crawl.
But I've been to somewhere, and found it was nowhere at all.
And I've picked up a couple of years on you baby, that's all.
Now sayin' goodbye, girl don't never come easy at all.
But you've got to fly 'cause you're hearin' those young eagles call.
And someday when you're older, you'll smile at a man strong and tall.
And you'll say I've got a couple more years on you, baby, that's all.
I've got a couple more years on you baby, that's all.
You'll say I've had more chances to fly and more places to fall.
It ain't that I'm wiser,
It's only that I've spent more time with my back to the wall.
And I've picked up a couple more years on you baby, that's all.
In the song "A Couple More Years" by Shel Silverstein, the singer reflects on their own life experiences compared to their partner's. They acknowledge that they have a few more years of life under their belt, indicating a sense of maturity and time passing. The lyrics suggest that these additional years have provided the singer with more opportunities to both succeed and fail, to soar and to stumble. It's not about being inherently wiser, but rather about having faced challenges and adversity that have shaped them.
The singer also points out that they have traveled down more paths in life than their partner has, implying a sense of weariness from the journey. While the partner is still in the early stages of exploration and learning, the singer has already ventured into different directions, only to find some of those paths leading to dead ends. This can be seen as a cautionary tale about the uncertainty and disillusionment that can come with experience and age.
The song touches on the bittersweet nature of saying goodbye and moving on. The singer acknowledges the difficulty of parting ways, but also recognizes the inevitability of growth and change. There is a sense of passing the torch, with the partner being encouraged to spread their wings and embrace their own journey. The imagery of young eagles calling symbolizes the beckoning of new adventures and challenges that lie ahead.
Ultimately, the lyrics convey a message of acceptance and resigned wisdom. The singer looks ahead to a future where their partner will also accumulate their own years of experience and reflect on the passage of time. There is a sense of understanding and acceptance of the natural progression of life, with the acknowledgment that each individual's journey is unique and shaped by the trials faced along the way. The song captures the complexities of aging, experience, and relationships, all wrapped in poignant storytelling and introspection.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: DENNIS LOCORRIERE, SHEL SILVERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind