Stages of Life Music
Handout
Intro: Nothing (Sorrow Remix) – Om Unit
Lyrics to Look for: “It’s the cycle of life..”
1.
As
Good As I Once Was – Toby Keith
Relevant Philosophers: Slote – Toby Keith references his
prime, and he continues to say that his prime was the best that he ever was.
The listener also feels a sense that Toby Keith misses his prime and the
experiences he had during that time. It feels like he preferred that time.
Lyrics to Look for:
“I ain't as good as I once was,
I got a few years on me now,
But there was a time,
Back in my prime,
When I could really lay it down,
If you need some love tonight,
Then I might have just enough,
I ain't as good once was,
But I'm as good once, as I ever was”
I got a few years on me now,
But there was a time,
Back in my prime,
When I could really lay it down,
If you need some love tonight,
Then I might have just enough,
I ain't as good once was,
But I'm as good once, as I ever was”
2.
Summer
of ’69 – Bryan Adams
Relevant Philosophers: Slote – Bryan Adams supports the time
preference view by saying that he would always want to be in the summer of 69.
This summer would have been during Adams’ early adulthood and supports the idea
that experiences in this stage are inherently better.
Lyrics to Look for:
“Oh, when I look back now
That summer seemed to last forever
And if I had the choice
Yeah, I'd always wanna be there
Those were the best days of my life”
That summer seemed to last forever
And if I had the choice
Yeah, I'd always wanna be there
Those were the best days of my life”
3.
Forever
Young – Alphaville
Relevant Philosophers: Overall – Alphaville focuses on being
young which, in Overall’s eyes, is not a critical time in a person’s life. This
seems to contradict Overall’s beliefs about childhood being somewhat
insignificant to the rest of our lives.
Ezekiel Emanuel – Alphaville suggests that he would only
want to live forever if he was forever young.
Slote – The above idea reflects a strong time preference
view.
Lyrics to Look for:
“Forever young
I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever?
Forever, and ever”
I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever?
Forever, and ever”
4.
My
generation – The Who
Relevant Philosophers: Ezekiel Emanuel – In this song, the
singer enjoys his youthful generation and hopes to never be an old person.
This correlates to Emanuel’s position because he hopes to die at the age of 75
when he believes that the quality of his life will no longer be meaningful.
Lyrics to Look for:
“I hope I die before I get old (talkin' 'bout
my generation)”
5.
Jack
and Diane – John Mellencamp
Relevant Philosophers: Ezekiel Emanuel – John Mellencamp’s
song, which proclaims that life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone,
supports the idea that one would want to die at a certain age. The “thrill”
that Mellencamp talks about could be interpreted as the thing that gives him
meaning, in which case the song and Emanuel’s ideas are even closer related.
Lyrics to Look for:
“Saying oh yeah
Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone
Sayin' oh yeah
Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone”
Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone
Sayin' oh yeah
Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone”
