A Couple More Years
A Couple More Years - context Summary
Published in 1972
Published in 1972, Shel Silverstein's "A Couple More Years" frames a speaker reflecting on age and experience as a quiet farewell to a younger lover. The poem repeats a resigned refrain about having "a couple more years" and links years to traveled roads, chances taken, and hard lessons. Its tone is rueful and steady, presenting maturity as lived experience rather than moral superiority.
Read Complete AnalysesI've got a couple more years on you, baby...that's all. I've had more chances to fly and more places to fall. And it ain't that I'm wiser... It's only that I've spent more time with my back to the wall. And I've picked up a couple more years on you, baby.. that's all. I've walked a couple more roads than you, baby...that's all. And I'm tired of runnin' while you're only learning to crawl. And you're headin somewhere... But I've been to somewhere... and found it was nowhere at all. And I've picked up a couple of years on you baby... that's all. Now sayin' goodbye, girl don't never come easy at all. But you've got to fly 'cuz you're hearin' those young eagles call. And someday when you're older, you'll smile at a man strong and tall. And you'll say I've got a couple more years on you, baby... that's all. I've got a couple more years on you baby... that's all. You'll say I've had more chances to fly and more places to fall. It ain't that I'm wiser... It's only that I've spent more time with my back to the wall. And I've picked up a couple more years on you baby... that's all.
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