OK, it's true. So now I'm 64 - born exactly the same day/month/year (05/05/1943) as Adri Sturm, my Dutch-born American friend, and Michael Palin, who's not my friend but I like to think we'd get on well if we met. No longer can we three sing that song and get away with it. Never mind. We've got just one year - or what's left of it - to sing the obvious follow-up. Here are a couple of adaptations posted on the web. Maybe someone can improve on them:
By Jim Pinto, December 2001:
When I was young, had more of my hair
Many years ago
I was always busy going off somewhere
Working hard, not a minute to spare
The years clicked by quickly one by one
Till I worked no more
I wasn’t fired I just retired
Now I’m sixty-four.
You are older too
All of our pals and friends
Grown old with me and you
I can be handy mending a fuse
When our lights have gone
We rise and shine and run around the countryside
Every morning go for a ride
Getting a discount when dining out
Movies, plays and more
Regular exerciser, older and wiser
Now I’m sixty-four.
Day and night my email beeps
With cable modem always on
Almost seems like work
When it’s late at night
Ideas flood my mind
Poems flow just right
Send me an email, click me a line
Stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
JimPinto.com is ready to play
From my bully pulpit observing the world
My website is my door
I’m a defender, no hidden agenda
Now I’m sixty-four.
By Phil Alexander, March 2006:
(Best sung by 'Ming' Campbell)
When I was younger
I used to run
Quickly down the track
Represent my country as an ath-el-ete
O-lym-pic-all-y
I'd compete
Forty years later (hair has all gone)
Can't do that no more
I have got slower
Not such a goer
Now I'm sixty-four
Hmm------mmm---mmmh.
I've got older, true...
Aaah, there are lots of other things
I have found to do:
Now I'm an MP
Here in the House
Lib'ral Democrat
Represent my country in a different way
Voted in each
Election day
Speaking on Defence
Seen on the news
Railin' 'gainst the war
Not getting younger
[But] Arguing stronger
Now I'm sixty-four
Now we need a leader to replace a Charlie Kennedy
That job could be mine...
Do I have that spark?
Ah, will members vote for me,
Simon, Chris or {ahem} Mark?
Fill in a ballot
Vote me your vote
Here's my point of view:
As a leader I will have statesmanlike class
Won't fall down on
My gravit-as
Here is the answer:
Simon got votes...
I got thousands more!
Lucky old bleeder:
Now I'm the leader
Now I'm sixty-four
