A note for 7 years
The song 7 years was written and sung by Lukas Graham. It supposedly details his life story over the years as a kid to the artist he has become today. The song also conveys his life so far and is split into years of his life 7,11, 30 etc. Examining the song we read about a beautiful story that has many meanings. Today I wanted to convince you that it is the BEST song ever. Let’s begin.
Once I was seven years old, my mama told me
“Go make yourself some friends or you’ll be lonely”
Once I was seven years old
The story start’s off with Lukas at 7 years old. It talks about how his mother tells him that he should get friends that he can depend on. It shows how the first step to being successful in life is to have friends that you can depend on. Its a reminder that without friends. Life is incredibly lonely.
It was a big big world, but we thought we were bigger
Pushing each other to the limits, we were learning quicker
By eleven smoking herb and drinking burning liquor
Never rich so we were out to make that steady figure
This part of the song according to most sources symbolizes how Lukas Graham was growing up in a dystopian community in Denmark. Wishes to grow up and make money because it was one of the things that he was lacking in life. However, he has no idea how to make it. It also shows the darkness in his past where he smokes weed and drinks alcohol with his buddies. Something that 11-year-olds shouldn’t exactly do. For me its how life is always going to be. You wont have any idea as to what’s going on and the only thing you can do is work towards your singular goal. For Lukas it was making money. For you it can be just happiness.
Once I was eleven years old, my daddy told me
“Go get yourself a wife or you’ll be lonely”
Once I was eleven years old
I always had that dream, like my daddy before me
So I started writing songs, I started writing stories
Lukas has been told to find love in the form of a wife. Someone that will care about him. It talks about how love is just as important in life as friends. It means the same thing for me. Love and life is intertwined, based on the same principle that makes life possible. He inherits his father will to write songs and stories in his life. Its his passion as well and he really dives into it. Not writing songs but writing stories.
Something about that glory just always seemed to bore me
’Cause only those I really love will ever really know me
Once I was twenty years old, my story got told
Before the morning sun, when life was lonely
Once I was twenty years old
That glory of wanting to be famous is something that really sickens him. He doesn’t do it for success he doesn’t do it for money. He does it for the simple reason that he can and that he wants to. He also knows that his success and glory will only be understood by those that have been by his side every step of the way. Kind of in the same way that even your success can only be shared by the people that know you. Its beautiful in that way because of how true it is. His story to his rise in popularity comes out, yet he just feels even more lonely because that’s really what life is about. No one understands your success because they haven’t been through that struggle.
I only see my goals, I don’t believe in failure
’Cause I know the smallest voices, they can make it major
I got my boys with me, at least those in favor
And if we don’t meet before I leave, I hope I’ll see you later
Once I was twenty years old, my story got told
I was writing ‘bout everything I saw before me
Once I was twenty years old
Here he talks about the people that have been by his side. His boy’s. Those people that supported him, those small voices that made him major. He talks about life after death. Where he says that if we don’t meet now I hope we can meet later. He start’s talking about his music again. How he’s begun to write about his life now. The life that surrounds him.
Soon we’ll be thirty years old, our songs have been sold
We’ve traveled around the world and we’re still roaming
Soon we’ll be thirty years old
I’m still learning about life
My woman brought children for me
So I can sing them all my songs
And I can tell them stories
Most of my boys are with me
Some are still out seeking glory
And some I had to leave behind
My brother, I’m still sorry
He talks about life after his retirement. After having sold songs and albums. After travelling shows and meeting people he still does it. He talks about how he’s learning about life. His wife the one that will care for him has brought him something he can care about. Childern. He talks about he tells them his stories and sings them his songs. He goes back to his men. How some are still trying to make it big. Other’s that have made it big and some that he had to leave behind because of life. It beautiful because of how true it is. He asks for forgiveness because he never knew it would turn out this way.
Soon I’ll be sixty years old, my daddy got sixty-one
Remember life, and then your life becomes a better one
I made a man so happy when I wrote a letter once
I hope my children come and visit once or twice a month
Soon I’ll be sixty years old, will I think the world is cold
Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me?
Soon I’ll be sixty years old
Soon I’ll be sixty years old, will I think the world is cold
Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me?
Soon I’ll be sixty years old
He’s now an old man. 6o year’s old. His father was 61 when he died and it makes a huge impact on him. He remembers his father’s life and lives a better one every single day. He also talks about how he was never really there for his father. How he only wrote 1 letter to him but that letter made the old man’s day. Maybe even his life. Something which had made Lukas. He hopes however that his childern don’t turn out like him. They come visit him. He knows that life after old age is cold. No one remembers. He fears being forgotten.
Once I was seven years old, my mama told me
“Go make yourself some friends or you’ll be lonely”
Once I was seven years old
Once I was seven years old
The song loops itself of with the last lyrics being “Go make yourself some friends or you’ll be lonely” and that’s where we learn about the main theme of the song. The song is about the loneliness a man faces. The loneliness that he feels when he is no longer remembered. The only motivation in life is to leave behind a legacy. Something that someone can remember us by.
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That’s what i consider this song. A legacy by Lukas so that the people he loves. Will remember him. To me its a reminder that life is way to short. You wont know when your 7 when your 11 when your 30 and when your dead. It matter’s what you do now. That’s what changes the world.
The Cinematography
The song is shot in all black and white. All the details are there to see. It’s clear as day as to what life is. Only when you take it do you see the importance of life. My favorite moment from the official music video is 2:46. Where Lukas is seen throwing a book of lyrics. For some reason that has stuck with me. The image. Which seems random ties with Legacy. How only when you try to live life. You realize that you have to let Legacy go, and only when you let Legacy go. You live life. The song is beautifully shot and can be viewed even without the lyrics explains the same story. Shows the same tale.
My personal experience
This song has been really what has shaped me today. It had been something that I had discovered online in 2015. Its been with me since its launch and been there for everything that’s really happened in my life. Every major event in my life so far has had this song as its background. Congratulating me for my success and pushing me even harder to make it even brighter. It taught me love, friendship, compassion, and most of all Legacy. It’s taught me that no matter where you are. Its important that you create something so that other people can remember you. For who you are or where. It taught me the importance of cementing myself in history. It’s a mastery of music and I wouldn’t give it up for the world. Cheer’s to you Lukas for making this song that impacts me to this day.
