I'm fifteen for a moment
Caught in between ten and twenty
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
I'm twenty-two for a moment
And she feels better than ever
And we're on fire
Making our way back from Mars
Fifteen, there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose
Fifteen, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live
I'm thirty-three for a moment
I'm still the man, but you see I'm of age
A kid on the way, babe
A family on my mind
I'm forty-five for a moment
The sea is high
And I'm headin' into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life
Fifteen, there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose yourself
Within a morning star
Fifteen, I'm alright with you
Fifteen, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live
Half time goes by
Suddenly you're wise
Another blink of an eye
Sixty-seven is gone
The sun is gettin' high
We're movin' on
I'm ninety-nine for a moment
And dyin' for just another moment
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
Fifteen, there's still time for you
Twenty-two, I feel her too
Thirty-three, you're on your way
Every day's a new day
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Fifteen, there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey fifteen, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live
Caught in between ten and twenty
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
I'm twenty-two for a moment
And she feels better than ever
And we're on fire
Making our way back from Mars
Fifteen, there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose
Fifteen, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live
I'm thirty-three for a moment
I'm still the man, but you see I'm of age
A kid on the way, babe
A family on my mind
I'm forty-five for a moment
The sea is high
And I'm headin' into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life
Fifteen, there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose yourself
Within a morning star
Fifteen, I'm alright with you
Fifteen, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live
Half time goes by
Suddenly you're wise
Another blink of an eye
Sixty-seven is gone
The sun is gettin' high
We're movin' on
I'm ninety-nine for a moment
And dyin' for just another moment
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
Fifteen, there's still time for you
Twenty-two, I feel her too
Thirty-three, you're on your way
Every day's a new day
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Fifteen, there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey fifteen, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got a hundred years to live
Lyrics submitted by breezybay11, edited by Tipxx, Goos0, MargoulisseSun, burkhartrl
100 Years Lyrics as written by John Ondrasik
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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He says, "I'm 15 for a moment, caught in between 10 and 20 and I'm just dreaming, counting the ways to where you are" I feel "you" is in reference to the age. At 15, you are at an awkward age where you long for adulthood and to be on your own and making adult decisions. I don't really feel he is referring to being in love at this point because EVERYTHING in ones life, including love, seems like it is the biggest deal at that age. And as the song goes on it's as if the phases of life are seperate people. This is very valid in the fact that at 10, 15, 20, 99, etc. you are a different person. When he refers to himself as being that age, he says, "I'm" or otherwise the age itself can be considered a person he doesn't know yet, or once knew, depending on the reference in the song.
I feel this can also be confirmed in the next verse, "I'm 22 for a moment, she feels better than ever and we're on fire, making our way back from Mars". Notice when he refers to his love he refers to her seperately, saying "she". And since he is 22, together they are "we".
This is further supported in the first line of the chorus as well as the last, "15 there's still time for YOU, time to buy and time to lose, 15, there's never a wish better than this, when YOU only got 100 years to live".
The next verse I find of more interest, "I'm 33 for a moment, still the man, but you see I'm a THEY, a kid on the way, a family on my mind." "They" is speaking of him and his wife, just as "we" was speaking of himself at 22 and his love at the time. I want to point out that any reference to a love in this song is also not necessarily the same love. If at 15 he is referring to "you" as an age and not a love, whoever he is with at 22 is not necessarily the love of his life and who he will go on to start a family with at 33.
In the verse, "I'm 45 for a moment, the sea is high, and I'm heading into a crisis, chasing the years of my life." There is not much that needs interpreting here. Those of you who said this is about having a midlife crisis, I have to agree that this requires no debate.
The verse that gives me chills everytime though is, "Half time goes by, suddenly you’re wise, another blink of an eye, 67 is gone, the sun is getting high, we're moving on..." So much power in this verse! Half time equals age 50 and wisdom is referred to as the mid-life crisis has passed and all one will do with their life has been done. 67 though is what I find very open to interpretation. Its a time after retirement by everyday standards and time to enjoy the rest of ones days. Is the "we" here though, that is "moving on" 67 and his wife or 67 and all the previous ages? I would say probably all the previous ages moving towards 100 and you will see why in the last verse and the final bridge to the chorus.
Here is where the tears come in addition to the chills for me, "I'm 99 for a moment, dying for just another moment, and I'm just dreaming, counting the ways to where you are." If anyone has ever watched a parent, grandparent or older loved one deteriorate this will make perfect sense. This says to me, that at 99 the "you" here is definitely not in reference to a love that has passed before the singer. In fact "you" is any one of the previous ages mentioned. This is all but confirmed in the final 3 of the 4 lines.
And in the bridge, I would even go as far to say that this is his life flashing before his eyes before he reaches the end at 100. "15 there's still time for you", he is remembering his youth and everything he had before him, "22 I feel her too", he can vividly feel every sensation and emotion of being in the moment with his love at the time. "33 you’re on your way", he remembers the accomplishments in his life and truly reaching adulthood by starting a family. And of course, "every day's a new day..." is the feeling you have when you still have so much life ahead of you 100 doesn't seem like it will be anything to worry about anytime soon.
I welcome any comments or debate but this is the way I interpret the song. Regardless, it is a beautiful song and will forever be one of my favorites!
Peace,
Shari in California
In 1915, the height of the first world war, Germany definitely had to make some tough choices, and lots of their choices at this point affected their history, and their tumble into the Nazi government. Still time for them indeed.
1922 was approaching the terrifying hyperinflation that crippled the country, not to mention the weakening government. It was around this time that Hitler was elected leader of the National Socialist party, and the timing of the Beerhall Putsch. "We're on fire" and "feels better than ever" for the party definitely applies.
1933 - Hitler takes power. He is a man, but also a they (The royal 'we', perhaps) in the sense that he alone controls an entire country ("family on my mind").
1945 - "the sea is high" and "heading into a crisis"? Couldn't be clearer.
Don't get me wrong, I love this song - I'm just poking fun at some people who can read anything out of anything at all!
What are you doing with yourself, man? Go fight for that woman. Quit waiting around!
"I'm 33 for a moment
Still the man, but you see I'm a they
A kid on the way
A family on my mind."
then:
"33 you’re on your way"
I think this song comes down to a man recollecting memories and giving examples of the future of his life to his child. Telling his kid that they have many years to come and to adventure. That he/she needs to slow down and realize that not everything has to happen right now. There is still time for them. Also, that at the age of 48 (33+15) dad still has time for him/her.
That's at least, my opinion.
Moxy Madiera
*Embracing Chaos, Practicing Stability, Smiling.*
**Living Life and Love in the Pursuit of Happiness.**
First, you're 15; you're "caught in between 10 and 20." You're not an adult, but you're certainly not a kid either. You're just dreaming about the girl/guy, and you just want to be with them
Then, you're 22. You've got your girl/guy, and you're going wild over them; "[you're] on fire, making [your] way back from Mars."
After that, you're 33. You're not just an individual - you've become a "we" because you've got a spouse and a developing family. Things are starting to change ("33 you're on your way" to me means that you're starting to realize that you're getting older; time is going by quicker).
And then, you're 45. You look back and see that so much of your life has already passed; you're crashing into a mid-life crisis. Again, things have changed.
And in what seems like the blink of an eye, 67 is gone. Your life is moving on; you're getting older even though you may not want to. You can't control it.
And then, you're 99. You're slipping away, and you're fifteen again in the sense that you're again dreaming about the girl/guy you want to be with - your spouse. But they're gone, they've passed on. And just like when you were 15, you just want to be with them.
The moral of this song, to me, is to live life to the fullest, to try to realize that time is going to fly by even if you have the desire to just be older. Treasure life, and enjoy every part of it, because it'll pass you in the blink of an eye.
Peace,
Shari in California