The Beatles - When I'm Sixty Four lyrics
This site covers the original British Beatles Albums plus analyses of the lyrics of non-album tracks.
Information on how the Beatles wrote the lyrics to their songs on the Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album can be found below.
Find out how the lyrics to the When I'm Sixty Four song by the Beatles were written.
Beatles Album: Sgt. Peppers lonely hearts club band : Track 9
Year: 1967
Lyrics: Lennon, McCartney
Length: 2.38
Although coming out on the Sgt. Pepper album the Beatles when I'm sixty four was a long time in the making. Paul McCartney had had the melody since his mid teens and often played a version of the song with the Quarry Men. The tune was inspired by the music of the British music halls which his father had been a member of. Interestingly in the mid sixties the songs and styles of the twenties and thirties were to come back into fashion so Paul was inspired to get to work on the song that he had started all those years ago.
When I'm sixty four is very much a tribute to Paul's father Jim who was 64 when the record was released despite many of the lyrics being written years previously.
The song itself has a very formal feel, with a declaration of love and feelings having the feel of a letter. When I'm 64 has a mocking feel and the guy is basically asking the receiver if she will still care for him when he is older, before he agrees to marry her.
Paul mcCartney does lead vocals and plays the piano on when I'm 64. He along with John and George also does the harmony vocals.
Individual Beatles role on When I'm sixty four
John Lennon: Lead guitar, backing vocals.
Paul McCartney: Lead vocals, backing vocals, Piano, Bass guitar.
George Harrison: backing vocals
Ringo Starr: Drums
Others: Clarinets, bass clarinet