About the Song
Background
- Written By: Sonny Throckmorton, a prolific country music songwriter.
- Released: 1977, on Jerry Lee Lewis’s album “Country Memories”.
- Success: The song reached #4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It solidified Lewis’s transition into country music, where he’d maintain success for years to come.
Themes
- Midlife Crisis: The song is a classic exploration of the midlife crisis phenomenon. It captures the restlessness, dissatisfaction, and attempts to recapture lost youth that can plague people when they hit middle age.
- Humor and Self-Awareness: While tackling a potentially heavy topic, the song maintains a lighthearted and humorous tone. There’s a sense of self-awareness that prevents it from becoming overly angsty.
- Marital Strain: The lyrics reveal the strain that a midlife crisis can put on a marriage.
Lyrics
Here’s a look at some key excerpts from the lyrics:
Capturing the Midlife Experience:
“Well I woke up this mornin’ with a feelin’ mighty low. Just turned forty and my hair is startin’ to show. Got in my car, it wouldn’t go,”
Rebellion Against Aging:
“I’m gonna buy me a high class piece of transportation. Gonna pick me up a young imagination.”
Marital Impact:
“My wife told me I was actin’ kinda strange. Well darlin’ you kinda bore me anyway.”
The Song’s Message
While the song never presents a real resolution to the midlife crisis, it does carry a few potential messages:
- Acceptance: It may be wiser to embrace middle age’s challenges rather than desperately trying to turn back time.
- Humor as a Tool: Sometimes, laughter is the best way to cope with difficult transitions.
- Importance of Understanding: Partners need empathy and understanding when one of them is experiencing a midlife crisis.
Legacy
“Middle Age Crazy” became one of Jerry Lee Lewis’s signature country songs. It resonated with many listeners hitting middle age and remains a timeless look at this common life experience.