I just listened to this song for the first time in a long time and was really moved.
As with most metaphors, I think these lyrics can be interpreted in multiple ways. But here's how I really see it...
As a musician myself (classical opera singer) who is getting older, I see it as trying to make the hard decision about putting aside your music in some or all ways to try to survive in the world.
The lyrics "The piano is not firewood yet" refers to the career not being fully over. You haven't given up. (Nothing can keep you from dancing.) It might be getting tough, but you haven't fully given up. Just because you're older, it doesn't mean you're dead, so don't give up.
"The cold does get cold, so it soon might be that." YET, one needs to live, and eat, and survive. You might just have to give up on your ideal dream in order to live in this world. Some in the earlier stages might judge. How can you give up on your career and dream when you are so good? But they don't know - they are on the outside. They are not where you are in your life.
Then, it references waking up, older. Perhaps regretting choices. Missing our youth. You look at the clock (calendar) and can't believe it's real. Where did the time go?
But ultimately, we have to love what we DO have, not what could be. If we do, we will feel more love in return.
As a 41 year old singer, who had decent success, but never made the big leagues, and found another job to bring in the money, I can so relate to this song. I DIDN'T give up, I still do sing. But I know I'll never have the dream I sought back when I was younger. And I truly don't know where the time went.
It had been a few years since I listened to this song, and I gotta admit I sat here crying.
I just listened to this song for the first time in a long time and was really moved.
As with most metaphors, I think these lyrics can be interpreted in multiple ways. But here's how I really see it...
As a musician myself (classical opera singer) who is getting older, I see it as trying to make the hard decision about putting aside your music in some or all ways to try to survive in the world.
The lyrics "The piano is not firewood yet" refers to the career not being fully over. You haven't given up. (Nothing can keep you from dancing.) It might be getting tough, but you haven't fully given up. Just because you're older, it doesn't mean you're dead, so don't give up.
"The cold does get cold, so it soon might be that." YET, one needs to live, and eat, and survive. You might just have to give up on your ideal dream in order to live in this world. Some in the earlier stages might judge. How can you give up on your career and dream when you are so good? But they don't know - they are on the outside. They are not where you are in your life.
Then, it references waking up, older. Perhaps regretting choices. Missing our youth. You look at the clock (calendar) and can't believe it's real. Where did the time go?
But ultimately, we have to love what we DO have, not what could be. If we do, we will feel more love in return.
As a 41 year old singer, who had decent success, but never made the big leagues, and found another job to bring in the money, I can so relate to this song. I DIDN'T give up, I still do sing. But I know I'll never have the dream I sought back when I was younger. And I truly don't know where the time went.
It had been a few years since I listened to this song, and I gotta admit I sat here crying.