Spring 2003 TIUA Seibert Listening and Speaking

When I'm Sixty-Four
Discussion Questions

Last name __________________ First name ____________ AM or PM

• Use your imagination and think independently to answer the following questions.
• Support your answers = explain your answers. Use information from the song.
• You do not need to use complete sentences, but please write neatly and be complete.

1. Who is "I" and who is "you"? Is "I" Paul McCartney, the songwriter, or someone else?

2. What is the situation that the song explains?

3. How old is the speaker or writer? What does he or she look like? What is his or her marital status? Does the speaker or writer live in a big city or small town?

4. In the line, "and if you say the word", what IS "the word"?

5. Why do you think this song is popular and has remained popular for so many years? (Think about the ideas/content, the language, the music, etc.)

6. What do these phrases mean?

"Who could ask for more?"

 

"too dear"

 

"scrimp and save"

 

"drop me a line"

 

"wasting away"

 

 

7. Describe what you think your life will be like when you're sixty-four.

8. What questions do you have about the grammar, vocabulary or content in the song? What don't you understand?