My Gen X Playlist: 100 Years – Five for Fighting

There is a certain point when somebody transitions from being in a hurry to grow up to wishing they were young again. If I had to spitball this, I’d say wanting to be older extends through the late 20’s. Teenagers wanting to be grow up too fast and twenty-somethings wanting to be taken more seriously.

The 30s have a good stride. I think this may be the sweet spot. Finally reaching adulthood, but still with that flare of youth.

Then the 40’s come out of nowhere, blindsiding you with a collection of responsibilities and expectations. Maybe it’s here when you start reminiscing about the years gone by. And if you actually used the words “years gone by” like I just did, then yes, you are on the brink of being middle age.

By the 50’s, nothing holds a candle to the memories of your 20s and 30s, regardless if they were great years or not. That’s the good thing about reminiscing. You are given a little creative license.

I can only assume the 60s are a similar shade, but with a double shot of expresso.

So where on that graph did I actually feel grown up? That’s difficult to say. I never had that aha moment that I declared myself grown up. It just happened one day when I wasn’t looking, between the layers of every day events. I think about:

My hour morning commute, drinking a venti coffee, keeping a watchful eye to avoid coffee drips from the seam of the cup. Sitting at the dining room table paying bills after a long day at work. Outside reading the Sunday newspaper, enjoying the morning sun on my face, wanting an additional free day. Phone calls to parents instead of the other way around, calling to see how they are doing. Time with family and friends, weaving together weddings, children, vacations, birthdays and funerals.

It happens somewhere when all these are scrunched together and rolled into a ball. One day I woke up and looked in the mirror to discover I was there. And I’m OK with this, not needing a ticker tape parade. I’m happy when my good days tip the scales on my tired days and I’m able to get a good nights sleep when my head hits the pillow at the end of the day. That’s a happiness score card worth keeping.

Five for Fighting released 100 Years in 2003. It’s a song that follows the course of life from birth to old age. John Ondrasik reflects back on what he loves most about the song.

I love that “100 Years” is kind of in many people’s video catalogue of their lives. I’ve seen so many birthday parties, marriages, graduations, even funerals – that song is kind of part of America’s home movie catalogue. That, to me, is just amazing and wonderful and I always get a smile when somebody sends me one like, “Here’s our anniversary” or “Here’s our wedding” or “Here’s our first child.” Like, “Now I’m 33 for a moment with a family.” To me, that’s a gift.

– AmericanSongWriter

I’m looking at the lyrics and they line up pretty close to my spitball. I think I just might have something here.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

I'm 15 for a moment
Caught in between 10 and 20
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are

I'm 22 for a moment
And she feels better than ever
And we're on fire
Making our way back from Mars

15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose
15 there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live

I'm 33 for a moment
I'm still the man, but you see I'm a "they"
A kid on the way, babe
A family on my mind

I'm 45 for a moment
The sea is high
And I'm heading into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life

15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose yourself
Within a morning star

15 I'm all right with you
15 there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live

Half time goes by
Suddenly you’re wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
The sun is getting high
We're moving on

I'm 99 for a moment
And dying for just another moment
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are

15 there's still time for you
22 I feel her too
33 you’re on your way
Every day's a new day

15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey 15 there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live