Love is Patient. This Song Isn't.
By Aaron Wulff
Tom Odell wrote a song called “Grow Old With Me.”
Wait, John Lennon also wrote a song called “Grow Old With Me.”
These are not the same song. One’s a tender piano ballad from a 22-year-old Brit. The other’s a posthumous demo from a Beatle recorded weeks before he was shot. Choose wisely.
Odell’s version opens his debut album Long Way Down, which I’d say is a bold move. Most artists bury their wedding-song candidate in the middle of the record.
Speaking of burying, you’ll also notice he stashes some explicit lyrics about three quarters of the way into the song. It’s ok. I’m sure your grandmother won’t notice.
Odell was 22 when the song was released. Writing about growing old with someone when you’ve barely finished growing up yourself means you’ve never experienced how annoying your partner’s loud chewing is fifteen years into the relationship. (Kidding. Mostly.)
Tom was supposed to be the next big sensitive piano guy. And “Grow Old With Me” was the fourth single, the one where he proved he could do tender without doing boring. The song peaked at #46 in the UK. Not a smash. But wedding songs don’t need to chart. They need to do things like make your guests cry.
Odell’s song borrows Lennon’s title but the lyrics are his own. “I can feel you breathing, with your hair on my skin” is pure Odell, not Lennon.
“Grow Old With Me” comes prancing in like a lamb and goes out like a freight train. It runs at 146 BPM in 4/4 time, which is a sprint in the world of ballads. This one’s going to be tough to do without breaking a sweat.
Alright, fine. “We’re sophisticated,” you say. “What about dancing in half time?”
Frankly, this song won’t let you. The driving piano and eventual full-throated instrumental explosion that happens at the two minute mark demands you to move. This is Swing territory, maybe Mambo, or another augmented step.
Could you just sway to it? Of course, but keep in mind the vibe says get up and get moving.
You’re also looking at a 30 second piano intro and a good chunk of trying to get the beat from the piano alone. Not impossible, but far from ideal if you’re trying to find the beat and keep up with it.
Here’s my take, if you want a romantic first dance, this isn’t it. If you want the crowd to jump on the floor with you and bust a move in the name of growing old together, now you’ve got a winner.
Even Grandma will forgive you.
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