September of My Years is a 1966 concept album by Frank Sinatra, exploring the existential angst of middle age. Sinatra won one of his three Album of the Year Grammys for this record.
When I was a kid, hearing September of My Years along with so many other Sinatra classics, I always thought of this as an old man’s album. As in, the final thoughts of a man on his death bed, looking back on a long and eventful life.
Turns out Sinatra recorded this album when he was about to turn 50, as I will in a couple of years.
To be fair to my younger self, this album does have a melancholy and somber tone more appropriate to old age than what I (now) consider the prime years of my life.
Of course, I say that as a happily married man with two great kids, a loving extended family, money in the bank, great experiences both behind and ahead of me. I guess if you hit 50 all alone, it would feel a lot more like September of My Years.
Today’s track is one of two on this album that originally appeared on other Sinatra albums, though they were rerecorded for this one.
Last night when we were young
Love was a star, a song unsung
Life was so new, so real, so right
Ages ago last night
[Verse 2]
Today the world is old
You flew away and time grew cold
Where is that star that seems so bright?
Ages ago last night
[Bridge]
To think that spring had depended
On merely this: a look, a kiss
To think that something so splendid
Could slip away in one little daybreak
[Verse 3]
So now let’s reminisce
And recollect the sighs and the kisses
The arms that clung
When we were young last night
Meet Me In Montauk 
You are a lucky man (not that Sinatra wasn’t as well).
One of my favorite albums of Sinatra’s ❤️ It is interesting that he was so young when he did this album. I know it’s sad but having Sinatra start my day makes me smile 😊