100 Years

I think you all have some valid interpretations of this song. I also believe most artists are very vague on what songs truly mean because in order to speak to the listener directly they need us to be able to relate the songs to our own lives. In my opinion though, I am more inclined to agree with those of you who think this song is about the persons life moreso than a song about the woman he loves. Here is where I am coming from.

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!