Jacob’s Birthday Song

Posted by

jacob

For years, the best man at my wedding said he hated “The Birthday Song” and never wanted people to sing it to him. So one year we were challenged to write a new song that he couldn’t complain about. Music maestro Aaron Gee-Clough composed some music, and I bashed out the lyrics. (Additional verse added the following year.)

It was a success. (You can read Jacob’s thoughts on his site.)

[Spoken intro over chord progression] On April 22nd
The whole world goes green for Earth Day
And April 1st is April Fools,
That prank-filled fun and mirth day
No one likes April 15th
The “find-out-what-you’re-worth” day
But we’ll celebrate on April 4th,
Because it’s Jacob’s Birthday. *

[Verse] Though some folks don’t like getting old
The alternative is worse
So on your birthday ride a limo
‘Cause it’s better than a hearse.

You’ve made it through the past 12 months
One more trip around the sun.
We’re all so glad you didn’t croak—
That would’ve been no fun.

[Chorus] So everybody raise a glass
and give a rousing cheer:
Happy Birthday, Jacob!
You’ve survived another year.

[Verse] Somehow you lived through each new day
Dodged death at every turn
And now it all starts once again
Why don’t you ever learn?

No one knows what lies ahead
It may be smiles or tears
But if you last the next 12 months
We’ll sing again next year.

[Chorus] So everybody raise a glass
and give a rousing cheer:
Happy Birthday, Jacob!
You’ve survived another year.

[Tag] Happy Birthday, Jacob,
and good luck in your next year.

* Adapt the intro as needed. For my birthday, it might be:

Now May the first is May Day,
when workers sound their horns.
And for Cinco de Mayo Mexican flags
Will every wall adorn.
On Memorial Day we recognize
Those who to defend have sworn.
But we’ll celebrate May 25th,
The day that Elliot was born.

Intros for other months are left as an exercise for the reader.

2 Comments

Comments are closed.