Spring 2004 TIUA Seibert Listening and Speaking

When I'm Sixty-Four Discussion Questions

Last name __________________ First name ____________

• 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.

When I'm Sixty-Four ( The Beatles)

When I get older losing my hair many years from now
Will you still be sending me a valentine,
Birthday greetings, bottle of wine?
If I'd been out til quarter to three would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm sixty-four?

Oh, you'll be older too
And if you say the word, I could stay with you

I could be handy mending a fuse when your lights have gone
You can knit a sweater by the fireside,
Sunday mornings, go for a ride
Doing a garden, digging the weeds, who could ask for more?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm sixty-four?

Every summer we could rent a cottage in the Isle of Wight,
If it's not too dear
We shall scrimp and save, grandchildren on your knees,
Vera, Chuck, and Dave

Send me a postcard, drop me a line stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say,
Yours sincerely, wasting away
Give me your answer, fill in a form, mine forever more
Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm sixty-four?

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? (use your dictionary, guess, ask friends)

"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? (Use the back if you need to.)