FAWM: "Old Enough To Know"

Old Enough To Know

2025 by @alyxanderjames

Liner Notes

Once again, wasn't sure if I was going to write today, but this #skirmish was intriguing! The book I pulled off the shelf was "All The Birds in the Sky" by Charlie Jane Anders, and the line on the 32nd page that popped out to me was, "When Laurence was old enough to do what he liked, he would be old enough to understand he couldn't do what he liked."

I want to preface this one by saying that while there's a lot of truth here, it's also much darker than how I actually feel about my life. My life hasn't turned out anything like I imagined at eight, or sixteen, or twenty-one, and even my thirties have held plenty of surprises. But I wouldn't trade the life I have for anything.

All of that said, I think it's a pretty universal experience to have dreams not pan out the way we expect them to, often because we don't understand how what we're wishing for might be impacted by material reality (particularly when we're kids and don't understand things like, "cars and gas are expensive").

#folk #PersonWithGuitar #acoustic #AcousticOneTake

Lyrics

I remember being eight Wishing desperately for twice as many years So I could drive myself away

And when I was sixteen I wanted nothing more than to be grown So I could chase all of my dreams

When I was twenty-one I swore that freedom was within my reach That I had earned a little fun

My thirties came around And brought responsibilities and debt And work that drove me to the ground

Now I'm old enough to do what I want to do And I'm old enough to know that's not quite true

Comments

@bethdesombre 2025

I love the idea of wanting to be older and how you portray it with specifics (and the chord change on "twice as many years" emphasizes the wistfulness well). You get to your version of the inspiration line well. (Also, I'm with @bradbrubaker on the power of the three line verse and the implied unsaid 4th line).

@bradbrubaker 2025

Something about that fourth line of each stanza (or the lack thereof) being something unsaid is powerful. Sad tune, sad conclusion.

@skylermf 2025

I love this interpretation of the line as a through line in the narrator’s life! The guitar part is very nice too

@coolparadisoMod 2025

Great line to pick up, how true! Very clever write! Really enjoyable listen.

@thwingbill 2025

Nice take on page 32. Your simple basic picking is similar to mine and the seasons of your life iare totally credible if not completely you. Good job

@cjk 2025

Good song, very true lyrics. But not as dark as you said it would be.

@gruvmachine 2025

Great tune! Great prompt line, too. The growing over each verse thing is great and well-executed, something I've tried in the past with meh results... Well done!

@eric 2025

Lovely take. I like the concept of checking in at different ages and changing perspectives as you go. Upon first listen, it seems that the final stanza could almost be a chorus that you introduce earlier in the song, with maybe a few modifications. Really enjoyed it.

@sherrycanary 2025

In a certain way, this reminds me of Joni's Clouds. Really good take on what you zoned in on Page 32. Nice picking and music too

@kahlo2013 2025

This is really lovely and deeply moving. The heartfelt vulnerability that is expressed with the insight reaches in deep. The guitar finger picking is a beautiful stage for the haunting melody that you deliver so gorgeously. Really well done!

@musicsongwriter 2025

Beautifully written lyrics, truthful and deep. Very beautiful guitar and singing, wonderful to listen too. Melancholic, thoughtful and calming. Very good taste on the prompt ❤️

@lemonbrew 2025

Great song! Has a lot of feeling.

@gordon 2025

This was indeed an interesting prompt and you have really nailed it from that opening line. It's melancholy, but in a good way if you know what I mean. It sounds like someone who has accumulated wisdom through the years. Really beautiful song and great skirmishing!