When I'm Older

**Producer(s)** | Clampitt

**When I'm Older** is a song by Ashe and is the fourth track on her album *Ashlyn*.

The song is one of *Ashlyn'*s breakup songs with "heavenly" vocals in whispered indie melodies.

## Background

It has been described as "representing depression", a "transition" track between "Love Is Not Enough" and "Me Without You", and as a "complimentary" song to "Not Mad Anymore" given their similar theme of coming to terms with an ended relationship.

It is one of four songs on *Ashlyn* which detail Ashe's complicated relationship with time (see the Trivia section for more).

## Meaning

The song explores the acknowledgment that pain after a breakup is fresh and still exists, but that in the future it will become trivial.

## Lyrics

[Intro]

Maybe when I'm, maybe when I'm na-na-na, na-na

Maybe when I'm, maybe when I'm, maybe when I'm older

[Verse 1]

Payphone calls, cigarettes, injuries, shower sex

I was holding on for dear life

Complicated, understated, on the way to devastated

We were young and out of our minds

[Pre-Chorus]

Right now I'm sorry

Burns through me, darling

But I can't help think in 30 years it won't

[Chorus]

So, maybe when I'm older

Maybe when I'm older

I'll run out of stories about you, yeah

Maybe when I'm older

Maybе when I'm older

I'll know what it's like not to lovе you anymore

[Post-Chorus]

Maybe when I'm, maybe when I'm na-na-na, na-na

Maybe when I'm, maybe when I'm, maybe when I'm older

[Verse 2]

Playin' house, immature, pickin' out furniture

Prayin' that our hearts would play fair

Emotional souvenirs, fleeting moments, golden years

Close my eyes and I go back there

[Pre-Chorus]

Right now I'm sorry

Burns through me, darling

But I can't help think in 30 years it won't

[Chorus]

So, maybe when I'm older

Maybe when I'm older

I'll run out of stories about you, yeah

Maybe when I'm older

Maybe when I'm older

I'll know what it's like not to love you anymore

[Post-Chorus]

Maybe when I'm, maybe when I'm na-na-na, na-na

Maybe when I'm, maybe when I'm, maybe when I'm older

Maybe when I'm, maybe when I'm na-na-na, na-na

Maybe when I'm, maybe when I'm, maybe when I'm older

[Outro]

Maybe when I'm six feet

Underneath the concrete

I'll know what it's like not to want you, yeah

Maybe when I'm older

Maybe when I'm older

I'll know what it's like not to love you

## Trivia

* "When I'm Older" is one of four *Ashlyn* songs which explore the motif of time. In this song, she wonders about the strength of its healing powers.
	+ The other songs with this motif are "Love Is Not Enough", "Ryne's Song", and "Kansas".

* Verse two is a direct contrast to verse one.
	+ In this verse, Ashe is looking back at the innocently pure parts of her past that are immature and blissful (hence the line: "Emotional souvenirs, fleeting moments, golden years").
	+ Unlike verse one, where she reflects on all of her hardships and vices she used when she was in her early twenties.

* The song references Ashe's ex-husband in the lines "Playin' house, immature, pickin' out furniture" [...] "Maybe when I'm older/I'll know what it's like not to love you".
	+ She also does in these other *Ashlyn* songs: "Love Is Not Enough", "Me Without You", "Save Myself", "Not Mad Anymore", and "Moral Of The Story".
	+ And from *Rae*: "Another Man's Jeans", "Hope You're Not Happy", "It Can't Be You", and "Loose Ends".

* "When I'm Older" played a crucial part in a viral Reddit story in late 2022. Although now deleted, you can read a copy: here.

## Navigation

 Ashlyn Tracklist

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 https://ghsexplosion.com/5424/reviews/ashlyn-ashe/
2. ↑ https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2022/6/27/ashe-boston-royale-concert-review-2022/
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 https://www.insider.com/ashe-ashlyn-debut-album-interview-2021-5
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://ftpunks.com/ashlyn-the-breakup-album-everyone-needs/
5. ↑ https://genius.com/Ashe-when-im-older-lyrics