Composer

:

Ervin Drake

Genre

:

Miscellaneous

Style

:

Miscellaneous

Average_duration

:

3:47

"It Was A Very Good Year" is a popular song composed by Ervin Drake in 1961. The song was first recorded by Bob Shane of the Kingston Trio, but it was Frank Sinatra's version that became the most famous and enduring. The song is a nostalgic reflection on the passage of time and the different stages of life. It is structured as a series of vignettes, each one describing a different age and the experiences that come with it. The song begins with the speaker recalling his youth, when he was "in the bloom of his youth" and "the world was young." He then moves on to his twenties, when he was "a man who was bold" and "the world was a song." In his thirties, he was "a man who was staid" and "the world was a stage." In his forties, he was "a man who was wise" and "the world was his oyster." And in his fifties, he was "a man who was old" and "the world was his friend." The song is notable for its use of different musical styles to evoke the different eras it describes. The opening verse is set to a waltz tempo, while the second verse is more upbeat and jazzy. The third verse has a more theatrical feel, with a prominent horn section, and the fourth verse is more contemplative, with a slower tempo and a more introspective tone. The final verse returns to the waltz tempo of the opening, bringing the song full circle. "It Was A Very Good Year" premiered in 1961 and quickly became a hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It has since been covered by numerous artists, including Ray Charles, Della Reese, and Willie Nelson. The song's enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless message about the passage of time and the importance of cherishing the moments we have.

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