Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Only Sixteen - Sam Cooke

Only Sixteen - Sam Cooke
2:03
single, 1959
Written by Sam Cooke

Luckily, this is not one of the innumerable songs of the era about a sweet young thing not a minute over seventeen, as Chuck put it.  It's about an age-appropriate puppy love that — of course — didn't last.  "Why did I give my heart so fast? / It never will happen again," the song's narrator asks.  Then comes the perfect punchline, delivered deadpan: "But I was a mere lad of sixteen / I've aged a year since then."  Now he knows better!  Cooke's warm and feather-light croon, augmented by a quiet male backing chorus, gives what might be a musical trifle a quiet dignity.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Juke Box Mama - Sonny Landreth

Juke Box Mama - Sonny Landreth 4:05 The Road We're On , 2003 Written by Sonny Landreth This song is a paean to an unnamed dance-floor e...