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Music is a universal language and has connected cultures and generations across time. We listen to songs to celebrate, express ourselves, and even find solace. Songs hold memories for us and help us attach stories we can share with our loved ones.
Returning to old music can help us travel back and find familiarity in uncertain times. We want to feel understood, so we turn to songs that speak what we cannot phrase. Growing older can be nerve-wracking, so what better way to relate to this experience than to listen to songs about aging?
Are songs about getting older really that depressing?
According to research, listening to songs, particularly familiar ones, may cause your body to release dopamine just to the first few beats! Dopamine is a hormone responsible for feelings of joy and contentment. Music can help alleviate blood pressure and anxiety, improving sleep, memory, mood, and mental alertness.
If you’ve been a music fan, you’ll be delighted to know that some of the hit singers of your time, such as Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Cher, and Frank Sinatra, have shared their heartwarming and fun perspectives on approaching their golden years.
Songs about aging can be so much more…
These songs are not just about lamenting over wasted youth. Ballads such as “Greatest Love of All” remind us to leave a legacy behind and revel in our strength throughout life’s journey.
5 Country songs about getting older to spark nostalgia
- Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver (1971)
- Time Marches On – Tracy Lawrence (1996)
- “Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine” – Tom T. Hall (1972)
- Too Old To Die Young – Moe Bandy (1987)
- Yesterday, When I Was Young – Roy Clark (1969)
5 Pop songs about aging that can rejuvenate your spirit
- Forever Young – Rod Stewart (1988)
- The Greatest Love of All – Whitney Houston (1986)
- Glory Days – Bruce Springsteen (1984)
- Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac (1977)
- Grow Old with Me – Mary Chapin Carpenter (1995)
5 Jazz classics that define timeless elegance
- Beyond the Sea – Bobby Darin (1959)
- Take Five – Carmen McRae (1959)
- Fly Me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra (1964)
- What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong (1967)
- Feeling Good – Nina Simone (1965)
The ultimate music playlist for seniors
This playlist of timeless classics brings back nostalgia and comfort. Some of these tunes will be familiar and make you smile. They are so popular that they are often found in movies, too. Take a trip through the eras and see if your favorite artist made the list!
Cherish love with these songs about getting older together
Listen to these romantic classics for a quiet night with your partner or choose one to dance to to keep the love alive. Listen to these songs and rejoice in the journey of your love:
- Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley (1961)
- Annie’s Song – John Denver (1971)
- Make You Feel My Love – Bob Dylan (1997)
- Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (1981)
- The Man I Love – Ella Fitzgerald (1956)
- Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers (1955)
- My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion (1997)
- What’s Love Got to Do with it – Tina Turner (1984)
Benefits seniors can get by listening to songs
In our recent article, we explored the benefits of music therapy for dementia patients. Here are more benefits that you can enjoy while listening to songs:
1. Psychological advantages
Spending time listening to music is a workout for the brain. It has structure, is architectural and mathematical, and keeps your brain actively working to stitch the notes together for your comprehension.
Studies have shown that the beats in songs light up most of the brain, including the amygdala, activating the body’s motor system and the emotions to memories, the limbic system, which influences motivation, pleasure, and reward.
In a survey of people attending musical performances, 69% rated their brain health as “excellent” or “very good,” compared to 58% of those who visited in the past and 52% who never attended.
2. A great way to spend time during retirement
Songs are a great companion during retirement. They can be your best activity for personal time or a topic for socializing with your peers while reminiscing about all-time famous artists.
While planning your retirement, having a solid financial plan and researching nursing home and memory care options may be essential if you need specialized care. Read the following articles below:
3. Makes Daily Activities Interesting
The melody of songs sparks joy(thanks to dopamine) and makes mundane physical activity like exercising more appealing. Listen to songs while working out or doing other activities of daily living(ADLs), and you’ll be amazed at how fast time goes by!
Songs can be your hiking buddy and a reason to participate in fun, social activities like trivia night and dance clubs.
Final Thoughts
Contrary to popular belief, songs about growing old aren’t just about regret. They remind you of your strength and wisdom and empower you to look forward to beautiful days ahead. From the romantic tunes of Frank Sinatra to the empowering anthem of George Jones, these songs celebrate how far you’ve come and the love you have shared with your partner and life itself.
Music will stay with you and take you to whatever era you want to reminisce. Which song was your favorite?
FAQs
What are some good songs about old age?
Check out these songs to reminisce over the bittersweet joy of aging with time:
- The September of My Years—Frank Sinatra (1965): Released in the late 1960s, this song reflects on the changing seasons of life and the acceptance of life’s late September drawing near.
- In Our Age-Kenny Rogers (1991): Enjoy this 90s romantic ballad about the beauty of commitment and strength between lifelong partners as they watch life pass by from their front porch swing.
- Autumn of My Life – Bobby Goldsboro (1968): A wistful, late 60s song reflecting on the hopes and trials of love, marriage, and loss.
- Heart of Gold – Neil Young (1970): This classic pays tribute to one’s personal journey seeking genuine bonds in a superficial world.
- When We Were Young – Adele (2015): A romantic tune from the Grammy award winner that will spark memories of lost love and youthful days.
What are some songs about positive aging?
These tunes celebrate the fun adventures and empowerment you have during your senior years:
- When I’m Sixty Four -The Beatles (1967): A whimsical tune from the hit English rock band dreaming of ever-lasting marriage with a partner and experiencing simple joys during their old age.
- Still Rock and Roll to Me – Billy Joel (1980): An anthem dedicated to rock music’s age-defying love and endurance of the audience unaffected by changing trends.
- I Don’t Need Your Rockin’ Chair – George Jones (1984): This country song challenges the traditional outlook on retirement and celebrates independence regardless of age.
- Young at Heart – Frank Sinatra (1954): If you have a youthful soul, you will be reminded that it is never too late to dream.
What song reminds you of aging?
We listen to songs to come to terms with our experiences, and you will find these songs about aging relatable:
- Time (1973) – Pink Floyd
- In My Life (1965) – The Beatles
What song lyric has aged well?
“The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind” is a lyric from Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” that became the slogan for the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Widely quoted and famous, this lyric symbolizes freedom, peace, justice, and anti-war protests and was famously cited by Martin Luther King Jr. during his speeches then.
