Running Towards What We Cannot See, What We Cannot Predict; That Is The Thrill Of Life.

Once I was seven years old, my mama told me,

"Go make yourself some friends or you'll be lonely."

Once I was seven years old

Everyone has probably already heard this song by now: 7 years by Lukas Graham. 

My friend is absolutely in love with "7 Years" that I already knew the tune, time, even rhythm of the song before I heard it officially. It's been a few days since I finally looked up the song and read the lyrics after months of my friend's (terrible) singing. (No offense, Bro) And I would have never thought about really looking into it until I heard it on 96.1 FM. I have to say, not only was the tune captivating, the lyrics themselves were like like another melody.

The song is told as Lukas Graham's story: The song starts out by Lukas being told to find friends and a wife or he'll end up lonely. And as the song progresses, he shares his brief childhood that was filled with drugs and alcohol. His stanzas are set up in a way that there is a segment for each of his life-stages. Life is looking good at twenty but will be at its height at thirty. His songs will be sold, his story will be told, and he will wander around the world. Then his life fast forwards to sixty. He asks if he will be "cold" or if his children will "warm" him. He wishes for his children to visit every month and the song goes back to the beginning, when he is told to find friends or he'll end up lonely. 

Personally, I love songs about life. The transitions within life, to be more specific. The future is a constant topic in my head: School? Yes. Work? Yes. Marriage?? Yes. 


We're told to focus on school because we need a job. We need a job so we can support ourselves. I say, we support ourselves, but some of us want to live a life supporting and being supported by a partner. Planning out your school route is great, but it doesn't hurt to plan your life beyond that. 

Media is filled with many topics but the recurring topics are about drugs, haters, and love. I don't really keep up with the current music unless it gets so popular that it comes up on 96.1 FM, so I'm not necessarily exposed to songs about "taking shots with friends on a Friday night" or "getting a Bit** back". Most of the songs that play on 96.1 FM are about love, and as much as I like love songs, you probably noticed that this song is not one. 

I like songs like "7 Years" because it addresses the topic I'm interested in: change. I hate change. I have to analyze my surroundings and find new friends, create a whole new routine, and just abandon the old ways I was comfortable with. But it's an inevitable factor of life so it would be better to address it than leave it be. 

Of course there are other songs that are about change, but Lukas Graham's song is set up in a way to briefly touch on almost all age groups. As mentioned earlier, life beyond work is a constant thought for me and finding a song that talks about it makes it a good day for me.

Soon I'll be sixty years old, will I think the world is cold

Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me?

Soon I'll be sixty years old

Not necessarily change, but the constant thought of what is to come. The song's stanzas and lyrics were set up very well and its melody was also very catchy. When the song came to a full circle at the end, I couldn't help but ask myself and everyone else, where do you see yourself at the age of sixty? Loved or loving? Happy or sad? With someone special or by yourself?