Like many people, I used to think it was about someone on his death bed, saying goodbye to his loved ones.
Now, looking deeper, I think it's about forgivenes, or being unable to forgive at this point, but being hopefull that one day, when he's old and wise, he will be able to say that the person was a friend. And at that moment, the sadness will be lifted from his eyes, as he is finally freed from the bad feelings of holding on to a grudge. In fact, the song can easily be about someone who has been gossiped about so bad that he can no longer stay where he is, and has a hard time dealing with that.
In more detail:
"As far as my eyes can see, there are shadows approaching me"
This to me would be the shadow of bad feelings towards someone, or maybe more than one person.
"And to those I left behind, I wanted you to know
You've always shared my deepest thoughts, you follow where I go"
My interpretation is that he wants them to know that he has always been honest to them, and that he will always keep them in his thoughts.
"And oh, when I'm old and wise,
Little words mean little to me, Autumn winds will blow right through me"
One day, when he has had the time to heal from what happened, he will be able to look back and not be touched by it all.
"And someday, in the mist of time,
When they ask me if I knew you, I'd smile and say you were a friend of mine.
And the sadness would be lifted from my eyes. Oh, when I'm old and wise".
He will one day be able to talk about it, and just remember that they were his friends, instead of that feeling being clouded by what happened.
"As far as my eyes can see, there are shadows surrounding me"
The bad feelings have grown stronger as his goodbye comes closer and more definitive.
"And to those I leave behind, I want all you to know
You've always shared my darkest hours, I'll mis you when I go"
He tells them again that he was always an open book, even through bad times and that he will miss them.
"And oh, when I'm old and wise
Heavy words that tossed and blew me
Like Autumn winds that will blow right through me"
Actually now talking about how hurt he is at this moment, but also that one day it will not touch him anymore"
"And someday in the mist of time
When they ask you if you knew me
Remember that you were a friend of mine"
A last hope that they will one day remember that he was a friend.
"As the final curtain falls before my eyes
Oh when I'm old and wise"
Now talking about when he will die, and hoping he will die peacefully, knowing he is forgiven, and that he HAS forgiven.
Here's my version of what this song could mean:
Like many people, I used to think it was about someone on his death bed, saying goodbye to his loved ones.
Now, looking deeper, I think it's about forgivenes, or being unable to forgive at this point, but being hopefull that one day, when he's old and wise, he will be able to say that the person was a friend. And at that moment, the sadness will be lifted from his eyes, as he is finally freed from the bad feelings of holding on to a grudge. In fact, the song can easily be about someone who has been gossiped about so bad that he can no longer stay where he is, and has a hard time dealing with that.
In more detail:
"As far as my eyes can see, there are shadows approaching me" This to me would be the shadow of bad feelings towards someone, or maybe more than one person.
"And to those I left behind, I wanted you to know You've always shared my deepest thoughts, you follow where I go" My interpretation is that he wants them to know that he has always been honest to them, and that he will always keep them in his thoughts.
"And oh, when I'm old and wise, Little words mean little to me, Autumn winds will blow right through me" One day, when he has had the time to heal from what happened, he will be able to look back and not be touched by it all.
"And someday, in the mist of time, When they ask me if I knew you, I'd smile and say you were a friend of mine. And the sadness would be lifted from my eyes. Oh, when I'm old and wise". He will one day be able to talk about it, and just remember that they were his friends, instead of that feeling being clouded by what happened.
"As far as my eyes can see, there are shadows surrounding me" The bad feelings have grown stronger as his goodbye comes closer and more definitive.
"And to those I leave behind, I want all you to know You've always shared my darkest hours, I'll mis you when I go" He tells them again that he was always an open book, even through bad times and that he will miss them.
"And oh, when I'm old and wise Heavy words that tossed and blew me Like Autumn winds that will blow right through me" Actually now talking about how hurt he is at this moment, but also that one day it will not touch him anymore"
"And someday in the mist of time When they ask you if you knew me Remember that you were a friend of mine" A last hope that they will one day remember that he was a friend.
"As the final curtain falls before my eyes Oh when I'm old and wise" Now talking about when he will die, and hoping he will die peacefully, knowing he is forgiven, and that he HAS forgiven.