About The Song
In the realm of country music, there are songs that twang the heartstrings with tales of love and loss, anthems that echo the spirit of the working class, and ballads that paint vivid pictures of rural life. And then there are songs like “19 Somethin'” by Mark Wills, a tune that seamlessly blends all of these elements into a poignant masterpiece that has captured the hearts of listeners for decades.
Released in 2002 as the lead single from Wills’ Greatest Hits album, “19 Somethin'” is a nostalgic trip down memory lane, taking us back to a simpler time of big hair, fast cars, and carefree days. The song’s opening lines, “Now I got a mortgage and an SUV / But all this responsibility / Makes me wish sometime / In this world that I grew up / Skating rinks and black Trans Ams / Big hair, I can see me / Oh Mandy, I love GZ,” immediately transport us to a bygone era where worries were few and dreams were plentiful.
Wills’s smooth, honeyed vocals effortlessly carry the narrative, painting vivid pictures of teenage shenanigans, stolen kisses under the moonlight, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship. The lyrics are infused with a sense of longing, a yearning for the innocence and carefree spirit of youth, a sentiment that resonates with listeners of all ages.
As the song progresses, the tempo picks up, and the instrumentation swells, adding a touch of urgency to Wills’s plea to “turn back the hands of time.” The chorus, “I’d trade it all for a nickel and a dime / Just to be nineteen somethin’ again / I’d give anything to feel that way / Back in nineteen somethin’,” is a universal sentiment that captures the bittersweet nostalgia of looking back on one’s youth.
“19 Somethin'” is more than just a catchy country song; it’s a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of time and the preciousness of youth. It’s a song that makes us laugh, cry, and reminisce, all while reminding us to cherish the moments we have and embrace the journey of life. So the next time you find yourself reminiscing about the good old days, crank up “19 Somethin'” by Mark Wills and let the music transport you back to a time when life was simpler, hearts were lighter, and the possibilities seemed endless.
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Lyric
I saw Star Wars at least eight timesHad the Pac-Man pattern memorized And I’ve seen the stuff they put inside Stretch Armstrong, yeahI was Roger Stauback in my back yardHad a shoebox full of baseball cards And a couple of Evel Knievel scars On my right armWell, I was a kid when Elvis diedAnd my mama criedIt was 1970 somethin’In the world that I grew up in Farrah Faucett hairdo days Bell Bottoms and 8-track tapesLookin back now, I can see meAnd oh man, did I look cheesy? But I wouldn’t trade those days for nothin’ Oh, it was 1970 somethingIt was the dawning of a new decadeWhen we got our first microwave Dad broke down and finally shaved them old sideburns offI took the stickers off of my Rubix CubeWatched MTV all afternoon My first love was Daisy Duke In them cut off jeansA space shuttle fell out of the skyAnd the whole world criedIt was 1980 somethingIn the world that I grew up in Skating rinks and Black Trans Ams Big hair and parachute pantsLookin back now I can see meOh man, did I look cheesy? But I wouldn’t trade those days for nothin’ Oh, it was 1980 somethingNow I got a mortgage and an SUVBut all this responsibility Makes me wish sometimes (Sometimes)It was 1980 somethingIn the world that I grew up in Skating Rinks and Black Trans Ams Big hair and parachute pantsLookin back now I can see meOh man, did I look cheesy? But I wouldn’t trade those days for nothin’ Oh, it was 1980 something 1970 something, aw, it was 19 something