Tonight we’re going to party
like it’s nineteen ninety nine
I’m twelve years old
on the phone with a girl that I like
Talking about the millennium
And the end of days
“Hope I don’t die a virgin”
Existential cliches.
Tonight we’re going to party
like it’s two thousand & eight
February fourteenth
Taking you out on our first date
Fancy dinner reservations
Pretending like we’re rich
Then drinking wine from the bottle
Up on the suspension bridge
Tonight we’re going to party
Like it’s twenty twenty seven
Drinking like I’m half my age
Still less answers than questions
Make a toast, raise a glass
Try to say something heartfelt
“Forty is just a number
That’s what I try to tell myself”

Did I misinterpret between the lines
Was I dreaming when I wrote this
No, I’m sure I’m doing fine
At the edge of everyday
Is a past and future tug of war
We’re the rope and no-ones keeping score

Tonight we’re going to party
like we’re back in eighty-six
My moms a pregnant teenage girl
Threatening to slit her wrists
My grandma hears the voice of god
Saying “it will be okay”
“This baby will grow up & be
someone special someday”
Tonight we’re going to party
like it’s two thousand & five
A request to appear in a courtroom
& meet my dad for the first time
I told him “I don’t know you,
You don’t owe me a thing”
Then we went out for pancakes
And sat quiet listening
Tonight we’re going to party
Like it’s twenty thirty four
Our boy has grown into a better man
Than I could’ve ever asked for
Talking about his future plans
“What kind of life do you foresee?”
“Maybe you could just move next door,
I still need you close to me.”

Did I misinterpret between the lines
Was I dreaming when I wrote this
No, I’m sure I’m doing fine
At the edge of everyday
Is a past and future tug of war
We’re the rope and no-ones keeping score

Tonight we’re going to party
Like it’s nineteen ninety three
In an apartment with my grandma
Kind of missed that old rv
Telling her how my mom
Took me out to take a test
So her boyfriend & her
Could cash those child support checks
Tonight we’re going to party
Like it’s two thousand & two
I left a candle burning on the shelf
And set fire to my room
Moved into the Marriott
Coffee shop down the street
Insurance Bought a new guitar
Listening to deja on repeat
Tonight we’re going to party
Like it’s twenty forty one
We’re at your fifty second birthday
Getting tipsy on red wine
Saying “Man the time sure flies
& damn we’re getting old”
“Tell that one one more time,
That shit‘s pure gold”