Oh Very Young

General CommentThis song is about the impermanence in life. This is a tenant of Buddhism, I wonder if Cat Stevens explored this before converting to Islam.

I'm not so young anymore, but my goodbyes to people, places and good situations do not ever get easier. I do like to hang on a bit too long, willing to "patch" things or figure out a way to make the 'goodbye' something other than what it is. There is a feeling of loss, when something good ends; and things are not infinitely improvable, so the risk a young person takes is not always evaluated properly. Great song, liking all the thoughtful posts coming before me. Cheers.

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General CommentI think I should take in this song, while I'm still young enough to GET IT.

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General CommentI see this as a young couple breaking up and the singer is advising the heart broken person that dreams don't always turn out as you plan. But since they are young "they'll never be a better chance to change your mind". This is unlike how it would be as a divorcing couple later on with children. For the very young, today's little problems;,just like a pair of jeans or a parent fades away, will also pass. But if the young person cares to see the world as a better place when they are older, the singer advises to not give up on love and to "carry the words of love with you" and the question "what will you leave us" the singer is telling the person to take the lemons and make lemonade.

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General CommentOh very young what will you leave us this time
Next generation, what will your legacy be, for the generation that is to follow you?
you're only dancing on this earth for a short while
You may now think you're invincible, but everyone dies.
and though your dreams may toss and turn you now
You might trouble yourself with the simple matters that seem so insurmountable today
they will vanish away like your daddy's best jeans
denim blue fading up to the sky
And though you want him to last forever you know he never will
(you know he never will)
Daddy's best jeans, like all things, will surely fade.... Even the most durable will surely pass away.
and the patches make the goodbye harder still
These things and people will pass, no matter the care we take to preserve them; and in trying to save them, there may be more sorrow and bitterness at the vain efforts to make them last.

Oh very young what will you leave us this time
Next generation, will you carry on with our wars and hate?
there'll never be a better chance to change your mind
You can pave your own way, if you so desire
will you carry the words of love with you?
will you ride the great white bird into heaven?
Are you willing to make peace, and make peace and love the anchor for humankind?
and though you want to last forever you know you never will (you know you never will)
and the goodbye makes the journey harder still
All things shall pass: will you worry about future generations, and what they've learned from you? Or will you be at peace?

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General CommentThis song is a plea. It reminds me of the first ten of Shakespeare's sonnets. The words ask the "very young" person to examine himself and open his eyes to what his existance is actually producing. His likef is like the "morning mist"...mortal like the rest of us.
I see the person being sung to as a reckless person who is living for himself, maybe not even hurting himself persay, but falling into the "get ahead" mentality, striving to make a buck, but not make much else. The singer is exposing this flaw to the young man pleading for him to use his potential before time runs out, because empty goodbyes are the hardest.

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General Commentthis song might be about shakespeare, but i believe it to be about a good old pair of blue jeans that didn't last as long as they should've. *one of my favorite songs of all time* whatever it means to you satisfies me because it's frickin awesome, :D

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General Comment"whatever it means to you satisfies me because it's frickin awesome"

I wholly agree.

I did drawings based on the words of this song.

I love it.

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General CommentI think this song also can simply be the happiness and sadness of youth fading and growing older. "like your daddy's best jeans
denim blue fading up to the sky
and though you want him to last
forever you know he never will
(you know he never will)
and the patches
make the goodbye harder still." along the way there are many goodbyes that are sad but they can't last forever, like the dreams of our youth. Patches to me mean we try to hold on, but inevitable they fade away. "and the goodbye
makes the journey harder sill." this could be the loss of loved ones, or children growing up and leaving home. This is a great song, good as a background for old home movie collections or photos showing pssage of time reflected in the children growing older. Thanks

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General Commenti read somewhere that this song is about Buddy Holly's death and acts like a response to American Pie by Don McLean (also about Buddy) but all your interpretations work too..
An amazing song by one of the greatest songwriters..

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General Commenti read somewhere that this song is about Buddy Holly's death and acts like a response to American Pie by Don McLean (also about Buddy) but all your interpretations work too..
An amazing song by a great songwriter..

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