Todd Daniel Snider is a singer-songwriter born October 11, 1966 in Portland… Read Full Bio ↴Todd Daniel Snider is a singer-songwriter born October 11, 1966 in Portland, Oregon.

Best known for his wry humor, Snider has been a fixture on the Americana, alt-country, and folk scene since his debut on MCA, entitled Songs for the Daily Planet, named for the bar where Snider used to play regularly in Memphis. On that album were the minor hits "Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues", a folk song about the early '90's grunge scene, featuring a band that "refused to play", and "Alright Guy", which later became the title cut of Gary Allan's 2001 album.

He released two more albums for MCA, Step Right Up and Viva Satellite, the latter often sparking colorful debate amongst fans for its comparisons to Tom Petty. He moved to John Prine's Oh Boy Records where he made Happy to Be Here, New Connection, Near Truths and Hotel Rooms, and East Nashville Skyline. That Was Me: The Best of Todd Snider 1994–1998 was released on the Hip-O label in August 2005.

Todd Snider's next studio album, The Devil You Know, was released in August 2006. It marked Snider's return to a major label, as he is now recording for New Door Records, a subsidiary of Universal Records.

The Devil You Know was named to several critics' year-end "best" lists, including a No. 33 ranking in Rolling Stone magazine's top 50 albums of the year, a No. 25 ranking by No Depression magazine, and No. 14 by Blender magazine.

Snider's songs "Late Last Night" and "I Believe You" have been recorded by the Oklahoma country-rock band Cross Canadian Ragweed. He co-wrote the song "Barbie Doll" with country star Jack Ingram.

Snider's new album, Peace Queer, is set to be released on October 14th, 2008, and will be available as a free download from Oct. 11 to Oct. 31 at http://www.toddsnider.net/store/product/1/Peace-Queer .

Age Like Wine
Todd Snider Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Old timer, old timer
Too late to die young now
Old timer, five-and-dimer
Tryin' to find a way to age like wine somehow

My new stuff is nothing like my old stuff was
And neither one is much when compared to the show
Which will not be as good as some other one you saw

So help me, I know, I know, I know

I am an old timer, old timer
It's too late to die young now
Old timer, five-and-dimer
Tryin' to find a way to age like wine somehow

I've met every fool who ever signed their name upon these walls
In the back of these beer joints and concert halls
I've been through seven managers, five labels,
A thousand picks and patch cables,
Three vans, a band, a buncha guitar stands
And cans and cans and cans of beer
And bottles of booze and bags of pot
And a thousand other things I forgot

I thought that I'd be dead by now
But I'm not

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Todd Snider's song Age Like Wine speak to the feeling of being an older musician in a changing world. The first verse talks about the realization that it's too late to die young now, and the desire to somehow find a way to age like wine. This is a metaphor for maintaining a level of quality and relevance over time, rather than fading out of the scene like many musicians do. The second verse is more reflective, acknowledging that the artist's new material isn't as good as their old stuff, and that nothing they do will ever compare to the best shows the listener has seen. The chorus repeats the sentiment that the singer is trying to find a way to age gracefully, despite the challenges.

Overall, the lyrics are a frank and honest look at the life of a musician, and the struggles they face as they get older. The language is raw and straightforward, reflecting the gritty reality of the lifestyle, and the wear and tear it takes on the artist's body and mind. The emotion behind the words is palpable, and speaks to anyone who has ever struggled to stay relevant in a world that seems to be leaving them behind.

Line by Line Meaning

Old timer, old timer
The singer is acknowledging their age and experience in their profession.

Too late to die young now
The singer has surpassed their youth and is now coming to terms with their own mortality.

Old timer, five-and-dimer
The singer is referencing their time spent at various locations in their career, including cheap bars and small venues.

Tryin' to find a way to age like wine somehow
The artist is searching for a way to improve with age, like a fine wine, rather than becoming obsolete.

My new stuff is nothing like my old stuff was
The artist acknowledges that their new material is different from their past works.

And neither one is much when compared to the show
The singer believes that their songs, both old and new, do not compare to their live performances.

Which will not be as good as some other one you saw
The singer is acknowledging that their live shows may not be the best ever, but they are still trying to improve.

So help me, I know, I know, I know
The artist is admitting that they are not the best, but they are still trying to be better.

I am an old timer, old timer
The artist is reiterating their age, and experience in their profession.

It's too late to die young now
The artist acknowledges that they have outgrown the idea of dying young and instead will age gracefully.

I've met every fool who ever signed their name upon these walls
The singer has been in their profession long enough to meet many people, some of whom are not successful.

In the back of these beer joints and concert halls
The artist is referring to the various settings they have performed in over the years.

I've been through seven managers, five labels,
The singer has had many different managers and been signed to different record labels in their career.

A thousand picks and patch cables,
The singer has gone through many musical instruments and equipment.

Three vans, a band, a buncha guitar stands
The singer has gone through multiple vehicles as well as band members and supporting equipment.

And cans and cans and cans of beer
The artist has indulged in alcohol over the years.

And bottles of booze and bags of pot
The artist has also indulged in other substances.

And a thousand other things I forgot
The singer has been through too much to fully remember everything.

I thought that I'd be dead by now
The singer has lived a life that could have had a negative impact on their health and wellbeing.

But I'm not
The artist has overcome the obstacles of their past and has survived to continue creating music.

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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