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When I'm Older

from When I'm Older by Johnny and the Raindrops

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about

'When I'm Older' is about hoping, wishing, growing up and having birthdays.
Ultimately, it’s about looking to the future with optimism.

It’s a list song that details what the narrator wants to happen ‘when I’m older’. It works just as well for the child as it does for the adult.
What do the children in your life want to do when they are older?

It starts sensible: ‘I’m gonna reach up and turn on the light’ (thanks, Raffi for that inspiration).

It gets a bit wilder as it goes on: ‘I’m gonna go to work with my robot friends. Take a trip ‘round the Moon again. Climb up Big Ben’.

The music is upbeat, danceable, mid-‘60s Motown.
The arrangement was influenced by ‘Where did our love go?’ by The Supremes.
There’s a bit of the Beatles' 'When I'm 64' in the words.

The recording and video were put together over the last couple of months.

Watch the video on YouTube: bit.ly/3kkfa0h

lyrics

Every single day I get older by a day just like everybody else in the world.

I’m gonna reach up and turn on the light.
Have a party ‘til late at night.
Sleep like Snow White. When I’m older.

Learn a song on the saxophone.
Tie my shoes up on my own.
Find my way home. When I’m older.

When I’m older. When I’m older. When I’m older. These things I will do
When I’m older. When I’m older. When I’m older. You’ll be older too.

I’m gonna climb a mountain. Fly a plane.
Cross the ocean and live in Spain.
Have a healthy brain. When I’m older.

Sing. Laugh. Dance. Smile. Every day.
Get my grandkids round to play.
Have hair that’s grey. When I’m older.

When I’m older. When I’m older. When I’m older. My dreams will come true.
When I’m older. When I’m older. When I’m older. You’ll be older too.

And one day I’ll be ten years old. And soon I’ll be fifteen.
And when I’m 20, and twenty-five and thirty I’ll write songs about the things I’ve seen.

I’m gonna go to work with my robot friends.
Take a trip round the moon again.
Climb up Big Ben. When I’m older.

Be friends with everyone.
Get my energy from the sun.
Feel like I’m young. When I’m older.

I’m gonna sleep out under the stars.
Own a hundred-and-one guitars.
Sing ‘Life on Mars’. When I’m older.

Have a good time all the time.
Play the dame in a pantomime.
Write songs that rhyme. When I’m older.

Play music all night long.
Dance to music all night long.
Keep singing my song, when I’m older.

Ba. Ba. Baaa. Da-n-daa.
Ba. Ba. Baaa. Da-n-daa.
Ba-n-da-n-daa.
When I’m older.

credits

from When I'm Older, released November 14, 2020
Music and words by Liam Maloy

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Johnny and the Raindrops Nottingham, UK

Jump-up-and-down-rocking-and-rolling-can’t-sit-down-best-time-ever music for cool kids and funky families.

Make some noise for the UK’s hottest live band for children and families!

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