When I’m 64

Parallels between Mimnermos 1 (Ancient Text) and (Contemporary Song) by The Beatles

ltc-admin, 2015-03-13 12:47
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The Beatles’ song When I’m 64 details the life of a couple when they have grown old together. The song has a positive outlook on age and love, while Mimnermos and some other Greek poets have the opposite viewpoint. In Mimnermos’ first poem he describes age as ‘agonizing’, that it would make a man ‘unrecognizable’. Age is a theme in love poetry that is timeless, regardless of how it it viewed.

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When I get older losing my hair, Many years from now. Will you still be sending me a Valentine Birthday greetings bottle of wine. If I’d been out till quarter to three Would you lock the door, Will you still need me, will you still feed me, When I’m sixty-four You’ll be older too, And if you say the word, I could stay with you. I could be handy, mending a fuse When your lights have gone. You can knit a sweater by the fireside Sunday morning go for a ride, Doing the garden, digging the weeds, Who could ask for more? Will you still need me, will you still feed me, When I’m sixty-four Every summer we can rent a cottage, In the Isle of Wight, if it’s not too dear We shall scrimp and save Grandchildren on your knee Vera, Chuck and Dave Send me a postcard, drop me a line Stating point of view Indicate precisely what you mean to say Yours sincerely, wasting away Give me your answer, fill in a form Mine for evermore Will you still need me, will you still feed me. When I’m sixty-four

Listen to the song:
When I’m 64