When I'm Sixty-Four
Paul McCartney (b. 1942)
arr. Ward Swingle (1927-2015)
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 mornings 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 forevermore.
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I'm sixty-four?
“When I'm Sixty-Four” was performed by tenor Benjamin Geier and the Houston Chamber Choir at their 2013-2014 season's “Love Me Do! Love Songs of the ‘60s.”
