Longer Than You’ve Been Alive

A time of passage and the passage of time.

Hello. You’ve reached Time & Temperature.

As my nest empties, and I prepare to begin my career as Professor of Songwriting at The New School in Manhattan, I’m dealing with an absolute swirl of emotions. I am beyond proud of my kids-turned-adults as the youngest matriculates to her dream school and the oldest moves into his first off-campus apartment. Adding to the intensity of the moment is my excitement at the prospect of joining the staff of The New School’s College of Performing Arts as part-time Professor, teaching a Songwriting elective class. It’s, as they say, a lot.

Going through old song notebooks in preparation for the class and my upcoming Songwriting is Magic Retreat, I came across the first draft of the lyrics of “Longer than You’ve Been Alive.” I remember this song pouring out, virtually complete, on a short flight between Newburgh and Detroit. Still, there were some valuable revisions.

See if you can spot the improvements.

“And I might have peaked when I was 25?” Yeesh.

“And I can’t believe I was once 25?” A little better, but still not there.