«When I’m 64» – Not Just Any Number…

This is quite a significant and important number and I wonder why Paul chose this age to give himself in the song «When I’m Sixty Four.»

Sixty four is divisible 7 times by these numbers: 64, 32, 16,8,4,2,1. Seven times, and seven is also a «magical» number. Seven days of the week for example and other things but we’re talking about 64.

64 is the square of the number 8, which is the number of infinity…

There are 64 squares on a chess table as there are 64 hexagrams in the I-Ching. The 64th hexagram is called «Before Completion» and it signifies that change is imminent and our life is about to undergo significant transformations.

In Astrology it is a lucky number for those born under the Sun sign Libra.

In the year 64 A.D. in Rome, Seneca proclaimed the equality of all men, including slaves.

There are 64 generations from Noah to Jesus Christ…

The song «When I’m Sixty-Four» was written by Paul McCartney when he was 14 years old, one of the first songs he ever wrote. Although the «official» explanation is that the song is about ageing and about wondering what your «other half» will do with you when you turn 64, I don’t think it’s that simple. Paul McCartney, even a young Paul, never wrote silly love songs, or did he?

In any event the song is nice, it has interesting lyrics and it focuses on age 64, which is really not that old. I found out that in BINGO, in the US, number sixty four is referred to as «almost retired.» Yet, being 64 does not mean that you are a useless old fart, and I wonder why Paul chose that number…

Here is the song…