Fifty's the New Thirty-five

John Robert Whitney

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folk singersongwriter multi instrumentalist songwriting band in a box

John Robert Whitney

John Robert Whitney is a singer/songwriter and professional conservationist from Western New York State (East Aurora/Buffalo).

Singer/Songwriter; multi-instrumentalist; folk, country, pop, blues, jazz, Gospel; professional conservationist

Song Info

Genre

Acoustic • Acoustic Folk

Charts

Peak #160

Peak in subgenre #43

Uploaded

November 23, 2010

Track Files

MP3

MP3 2.6 MB • 128 kbps • 2:48

Story behind the song

My cousin, Gretchen, and I sang in a little late elementary school group along with Lorie and her cousin, Mindy. Somebody's mother thought it would be cute if we called ourselves "Waite for Whitneys."  That was many years ago.  Lorie is the last of our little group to join the half-century club.  This song is an updating of a 40th birthday song I wrote for Lorie called, "Forty Going on Thirty."  We're all getting older.

I could really have used few female vocalists for this recording but this was what I could quickly pull together with a Band-in-a-Box backup band.

Lyrics

REFRAIN

Fifty's the new thirty-five.
Say it over and over again.
Fifty's the new thirty-five.
It's not true, but it's nice to pretend.

Fifty's such a milestone!  Tell me what's a girl to do,
When she doesn't look or feel a day, over ... thirty-two?
Who say's "fifty's over the hill?" The thought's sure got me feeling blue.
Fifty's the new thirty-five. If only it was true.
     If only it was true.   REFRAIN

Please don't sing that "birthday song" but if that's what you must do
Please leave off the verse that asks the age of who you're singing it to.
After all it's not polite, or wise, to ask a lady's age,
That is unless you'd like to catch a glimpse of her inner rage,
    a glimpse of her inner rage.   REFRAIN

Looked in the mirror yesterday and I had to admit
For a fifty year old grandmother, I'm remarkably fit.
Sure the fact I don't have glasses on, that doesn't hurt a bit.
Fifty's the new thirty-five - I almost believe it!
     In time I'll get over it.   REFRAIN

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