The theme of a once-cool person getting older is pretty typical for a rocker turning 40, maybe even worse for an Austin musician that remembers how cool it was there in the 90s and doesn't recognize it now. But like all Okkervil songs, it's two sided: getting old and lonely and drunk and defeated is ugly, but he recognizes in the first and last verse the wonder of childhood, the magic of the weather and travel and music... ending on that note, music is amazing, even if it's a new generation's turn to have their minds blown. There will always be cover songs, the perfect symbol of nostalgia and being satisfied with the echo of cool after cool has gone.
The title is funny. "Formerly cool" people often compare turning 40 to dying (see James Murphy, Pete Townshend lyrics) but they're almost always tongue in cheek, obviously there is a lot more time left to have fun and reflect.
The theme of a once-cool person getting older is pretty typical for a rocker turning 40, maybe even worse for an Austin musician that remembers how cool it was there in the 90s and doesn't recognize it now. But like all Okkervil songs, it's two sided: getting old and lonely and drunk and defeated is ugly, but he recognizes in the first and last verse the wonder of childhood, the magic of the weather and travel and music... ending on that note, music is amazing, even if it's a new generation's turn to have their minds blown. There will always be cover songs, the perfect symbol of nostalgia and being satisfied with the echo of cool after cool has gone.
The title is funny. "Formerly cool" people often compare turning 40 to dying (see James Murphy, Pete Townshend lyrics) but they're almost always tongue in cheek, obviously there is a lot more time left to have fun and reflect.