"Story of the 60s"

One of the managers was the classic Baby Boomer. He was 32 when Wally and I used to go hang out at his house, listening to recordings and talking about music. To us, Rob was something of an elder statesman. My, how perspectives change!

Current listening: The Partridge Family, Crossword Puzzle

Story of the 60s

© 1985 Brian Hutzell

He listened to Beatles all the time when he was my age

Now he’s not sure what he wants to do

He works at simple jobs in kitchens and deliveries

Doesn’t have a lot he has to do

But time keeps calling to him

Saying, “Where have you been?

I don’t wait for no one but you’ve waited for me

To give you a life, but that’s not mine to give.”

Better get on the ball

Better get on the ball

Better get on the ball

Better get on the ball

He sits and reads and goes to movies, enjoys music

All his friends are half his age

Admits the present isn’t perfect

Talks about the future and the past as if they were the same

But time keeps passing him by

Asking him, “Why are you such a fool?

You play by my rules or don’t play at all.

You’ve got one life to live.”

Better get off the bench

Better get off the bench

Better get off the bench

Better get in the game

He wants to belong to today

But he never forgets yesterday, that’s okay

It makes him fascinating to his younger friends

They like to listen to his stories

His stories of the 60s

He buys the fashion magazines, tries to be trendy

But the look evades him every time

And though he’s out of step

He’s so much younger than his classmates from the class of '65.

The Baby Boomers now mature, white collar workers

Married rebels now successful

Their lives are ordered, but the past has been forgotten

And their future’s unexciting