100 Years by Five For Fighting

100 Years

The song 100 Years is about the growth of a person. The song starts out at 15; this could mean that a person’s life truly begins at age 15. It could also mean that the most important decisions and the decisions that affect a person’s life begin at age 15. The second line ‘caught in between 10 and 20’ is to show that they are no longer a child, but not quite an adult yet either. The third line represents a 15 – year – old being ambitious and setting goals for the future, but not taking action to reach these goals at that time.

The next part of the song represents the young adult phase of a person’s life. Age 22 is typically the age when most young people graduate from college. This is also the time when a person wants to live life to the fullest and be as adventurous as possible. The line ‘Making our way back from Mars’ does not mean that this person is an astronaut that traveled to Mars, but is a person that has enjoyed life to the fullest without a care, but must get back to reality and being responsible.

The song goes back to being 15 years old and the reference that a 15 – year – old still has time to make life-long decisions. ‘Time to buy and time to lose’ does not mean a person can physically pay money for time, but refers to the idea that a person does not have to know exactly what he/she wants to do with his/her life at the age of 15.

The song then goes into the next phase of life. Once again life never stops so a person is only 33 for a moment. At 33 a person is identified as an adult, but in the plural form. Unlike 22, at 33 a person has responsibilities, usually children, and thinking to start a family. Next stage is 45. At 45 a person is trying to figure out what happened to their younger years. At age 45 most people are also worried about turning 50 and getting older. Ironically, even though people are scared to turn 50 and get older it is socially accepted that once a person is 50 years old he/she is suddenly wise.

The last stage starts at 67 years old. According to the line ‘Dying for just another moment,’ after a person turns 50 years old, every year after that is just another year closer to dying. This line also refers to a person worrying about being able to just live another day.  

This song overall is a metaphor for life and the different stages of life. The song is meant to inform people that even though you may live to be 100 years old live still goes by fast and you must make every moment and every year count.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR-qQcNT_fY