7 Empowering Songs About Aging That Are Always On Our Playlists

In a world that embraces looking youthful and constantly rejects aging, there's something refreshing about listening to songs that celebrate growing old. Sure, it's perfectly fine if you get regular injectables and want to know how to prevent jowls as you age, but there's a lot to be said for welcoming your mounting years, as it comes with a lot of perks, after all. You're wiser, you stop caring about what others think, and you can draw inspiration from Jane Fonda, who is reframing how she thinks of beauty as she ages.

But you don't have to be in your golden years to appreciate Father Time. Millennial artists like Sasha Alex Sloan, Lana Del Rey, and Bebe Rexha have recorded songs that touch upon the topic of aging or serve as a reflection of their past, including good things and mistakes. From sweet ballads to intense rock beats and groovy throwback hits, these songs will have you appreciating every experience in your life that has shaped you.

With youth on your side, the world is yours for the taking, but in "Young and Beautiful," Lana Del Rey wonders whether her partner will still love her in her older years. It's most definitely a rhetorical question as she croons, "I know you will, I know you will, I know that you will." Del Rey also sings about dreaming of being with her lover in the afterlife: "Dear Lord, when I get to Heaven / Please, let me bring my man / When he comes, tell me that You'll let him in." It doesn't get more romantic than that.

If you want to go down the nostalgia road, listen to "Turn! Turn! Turn!" by The Byrds. You've probably heard this song in various films and television shows, and that's because it resonates with everyone. The lyrics speak about seasons changing and the natural evolution of life, both happy and sad: "A time to build up, a time to break down / A time to dance, a time to mourn / A time to cast away stones / A time to gather stones together." With the upbeat melody and message about accepting transition, you'll be bobbing to this beat.

For someone who's in her early 30s, Sasha Alex Sloan has a lot of wisdom. It appears she's gone through a lot in life already, as she sings about hearing her parents fight when she was younger. In "Older," she sings, "The older I get, the more that I see / My parents aren't heroes, they're just like me / And loving is hard, it don't always work / You just try your best not to get hurt." As she thinks back on her mom and dad's relationship, Sloan resolves not to hold onto anger, and to step away to protect her own peace. This is true maturity.

Joni Mitchell is a master at weaving words, with "The Circle Game" a poignant telling of a boy going through different stages of life. In the chorus, she sings about not being able to stop time, and although disappointment comes as an adult, there is still hope ahead: "So, the years spin by and now the boy is twenty / Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true / There'll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty / Before the last revolving year is through." In short, you may not be a wide-eyed child anymore, but life never ceases to amaze.

You couldn't get through the Y2K era without hearing "100 Years" by Five For Fighting, and it's still played at birthdays, weddings, and other momentous occasions to this day. The touching song follows a person as a teen who is reminded, "Fifteen, there's still time for you / Time to buy and time to lose / Fifteen / There's never a wish better than this / When you only got a hundred years to live." As the person gets older, time goes by faster, and the lyrics are a reminder to enjoy every moment, no matter where you are in life.

If you ever need a reminder that sometimes you make mistakes, but that only makes you wiser, listen to "You Learn" by Alanis Morissette. Life lessons are never easy and go down like a "jagged little pill," but still, Morissette preaches, "You live, you learn / You love, you learn / You cry, you learn / You lose, you learn / You bleed, you learn / You scream, you learn." The rocker also encourages folks to live life with gusto and without fear of being yourself, which is great advice at any age.

Bebe Rexha knows what's up with her anthem, "Not 20 Anymore." Instead of lamenting aging, she's totally living it up in her late 30s, singing, "No, I'm not 20 anymore / Don't try to make me feel insecure / 'Cause I'm aging like wine / I get better with time, yes, I do." She's also not afraid of fine lines and wrinkles, belting out, "The lines on my face, they weren't there before / But I'm wiser, I'm stronger from all of the life I've been through." Every crease on your face was earned, so live like Bebe Rexha and wear them proudly.