Grow Old With Me - John Lennon / Mary Chapin Carpenter
Song Lyrics / Song & Chart History / Artist Information

  • Originally written by John Lennon in 1980
  • The first two lines are from Robert Browning's poem "Rabbi Ben Ezra" published in 1864
    • Grow old along with me!
      The best is yet to be,
      The last of life, for which the first was made:
      Our times are in His hand
      Who saith "A whole I planned,
      Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!
  • Ironically, this song about love and growing old together were not to be for Lennon, who was murdered by Marc David Chapman on December 8, 1980, only a few months after writing the song
  • The only recorded version of Lennon performing the song is a scratchy demo recorded in Lennon's living room
  • The demo recording was ultimately released on Lennon's posthumous "Milk and Honey" album in 1984
  • It had been intended for the "Double Fantasy" album, but production schedules precluded it's use as the song had not been completed and the album had to be shipped
  • The most widely familiar and best recorded version of the song was performed by Mary Chapin Carpenter in 1995 on a compilation album by various artists entitled "Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon"
  • The song was never released as a single and thus never charted on the Billboard charts
  • The song is a staple at wedding ceremonies and wedding receptions

Song Lyrics - Grow Old With Me

Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be
When our time has come, we will be as one
God bless our love - God bless our love

Grow old along with me, two branches of one tree
Face the setting sun - when the day is done
God bless our love - God bless our love

Spending our lives together
Man and wife together
World without end

Grow old along with me, whatever fate decrees
We will see it through - cuz our love is true
God bless our love - God bless our love
God bless our love - God bless our love


Note that the lyrics posted here are those as interpreted and performed by The Oracle Band.  Their use here is intended as an aid for people in selecting music for their wedding reception or private party, and may not be reproduced for any commercial, for-profit use.

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"Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon

This album contains the Mary Chapin Carpenter version of "Grow Old With Me", in addition to several other John Lennon songs covered by a rather eclectic assortment of artists, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cheap Trick, George Clinton, and Blues Traveler

 

Milk & Honey
John Lennon & Yoko Ono

This album was released a few years after Lennon's death, and contains the only remaining recording of Lennon singing Grow Old With Me.

It's a demo that was actually recorded at home on a cassette recorded, but it is intriguing as well as poignant

 

Over the Rainbow:
The Songbird Collection

This 2-disk compilation CD includes the Mary Chapin Carpenter version of Grow Old With Me.

It also features tracks by artists such as Joan Baez,  Dusty Springfield,  Suzanne Vega, Carly Simon, Sarah McLaughlan,  Shawn Colvin, Shania Twain, and Natalie Cole

A nice collection of songs perhaps not already in your library