.
Thanks, Donna, for this great vid!
What a song for David to sing… I had never heard it before and only looked up the original after hearing David’s version.
Can’t stop listening to it. Very powerful, very moving and so very different than we’ve ever heard him. Loved it. To me, it seemed like a tiny glimpse of what David’s capable of doing, a peek at the future … at what lies in store. A place where message meets emotion. Wow.
Such a personal song for the original artist and yet universal in so many ways, those are the best songs, imo. Can totally see why David relates to it.
I had to look up the background of the original artist and the story of the song… where else, Wikipedia 🙂
[Lukas Graham] frontman Lukas Graham Forchhammer described “7 Years” as a song about his life so far and what he hopes to achieve in the future. He said that the reason the lyrics go as far as the age of 60 is because his father died at 61 and he needed to “pass it to believe it.” He continued: “It’s a song about growing older. I’m also coming to a realisation that being a father is the most important thing. My biggest dream is not to be some negative old dude, but to have my kids’ friends say, ‘You’re going to visit your dad? Say hi! He’s awesome.’ I had a perfect father.”
Regarding the band’s prior failure to break into the UK market Forchhammer stated, “It’s like my father died at exactly the right moment – and I know that’s something I shouldn’t say, but I just did! If my dad hadn’t died in 2012 I wouldn’t have written our song Happy Home, which catapulted us into a Scandinavian success story. I wouldn’t have written 7 Years, which got us signed to a publisher in America and ultimately signed to Warner Bros.”
Here are the original lyrics:
Once I was seven years old, my mama told me,
“Go make yourself some friends or you’ll be lonely.”
Once I was seven years old
It was a big big world, but we thought we were bigger
Pushing each other to the limits, we were learning quicker
By eleven smoking herb and drinking burning liquor
Never rich so we were out to make that steady figure
Once I was eleven years old. My daddy told me,
“Go get yourself a wife or you’ll be lonely.”
Once I was eleven years old
I always had that dream like my daddy before me
So I started writing songs, I started writing stories
Something about that glory,
Just always seemed to bore me
‘Cause only those I really love will ever really know me
Once I was twenty years old.
My story got told
Before the morning sun, when life was lonely
Once I was twenty years old
I only see my goals, I don’t believe in failure
‘Cause I know the smallest voices. They can make it major
I got my boys with me at least those in favor
And if we don’t meet before I leave, I hope I’ll see you later
Once I was twenty years old.
My story got told
I was writing about everything I saw before me
Once I was twenty years old
Soon we’ll be thirty years old,
Our songs have been sold
We’ve traveled around the world and we’re still roaming
Soon we’ll be thirty years old
I’m still learning about life
My woman brought children for me
So I can sing them all my songs
And I can tell them stories
Most of my boys are with me
Some are still out seeking glory
And some I had to leave behind
My brother I’m still sorry
Soon I’ll be sixty years old, my daddy got sixty-one
Remember life and then your life becomes a better one
I made a man so happy when I wrote a letter once
I hope my children come and visit once or twice a month
[2x]
Soon I’ll be sixty years old,
Will I think the world is cold
Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me?
Soon I’ll be sixty years old
Once I was seven years old, my mama told me,
“Go make yourself some friends or you’ll be lonely.”
Once I was seven years old
Once I was seven years old
***For enhanced audio of 7 Years Old in Boise:
***Download HERE.
What do you guys think??
p.s.
Download the amazing Abrra’s Denver mp3&4s HERE and Boise mp3&4s HERE.
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p.p.s.s.
And here’s Shelley’s amazing vid from Denver (with closeups):
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And Liz’s vid from Denver with awesome audio (thanks, Tina for the heads up!)
Download mp3 from Liz’s vid HERE.
SnowAngelz: Canadian fans of David Archuleta 
I too had never heard the song before and actually bought it on iTunes yesterday and was listening to it on repeat in the car. It’s such a great song. I have to admit that I couldn’t make out all of the words David was singing so was happy to see the lyrics to the song. I found he rushed through it a bit but I’m sure as he gets more comfortable singing the song, he will have it perfected in no time 😊. I’m once again in awe of the Ninja Archies who are able to get the videos at these concerts and share them with us….I have all kinds of visions of how they fool the ArchuPolice to make this happen lolol. God Bless them all 💕💕
Not sure why I’m showing up Anonymous but it’s me…dangitdavid 😊😊
It is such a good song and I am really happy that David covered it…..a sweet surprise! I was familiar with the song and yes, I can see how David relates to it too. I’ve listened to it many times and loving David’s cover of it. He really is capable of so many things and I always find that his natural ability to sing almost anything so well is one of his great attributes.
Yes, what a great vid, thanks Donna!
Thanks TOfan for the story behind the song and the lyrics. I had not heard it before. As usual David’s emotional cover – I think he is very selective with his choice of cover songs – has led me to iTunes to check out another artist…
Cool “crowd album” that Shelley posted:
https://www.crowdalbum.com/album/56e27b9b7574692c9e0000c7/David-Archuleta_20160311
Plus, srsly dyingg at this:
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Hahahahahaha!
I like this cover so much. I had heard the song before but only a time or two and never really listened closely to the lyrics. The audio on Liz’s video of 7 Years from Denver is SO GOOD. The sound is crisp and clear — I made an mp3 from it and was listening in awe on my drive to work.
Deb — if you haven’t already you need to read about the David Enchilada incident from the Denver show. I laughed way too much. I didn’t add this to my tumblr post on it but apparently after the enchilada rambling, David said to himself “Focus, David!” bahahahahaha. Bless. his. heart.
eeeep, thanks, Tina!!! you’re right, amazing audio… I try not to post too many David vids on FB but had to share this one, wow. … now heading to your tumblr to read about David Enchilada, I had not heard about it! #badfan
Tina’s post about it HERE.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I love this post! I liked the song, too, but felt it was 100% in David’s wheelhouse. I wish he’d take a few risks when he does covers. I can say stuff like that without guilt now because David knows he doesn’t have to please everyone.
I was surprised to see these lyrics in the official version: “By eleven smoking herb and drinking burning liquor.” I didn’t remember anything like that from the concert, and sure enough, he didn’t sing that. Whew.
sorry Ms. B., not sure what you mean … are you saying that because it was 100% in his wheelhouse that he wasn’t taking enough of a risk? (Just want to make sure I get what you’re saying.)
Right. It’s exactly the kind of song that David sings well and has sung time and time again. Musically and vocally it would have been right at home on TOSOD. Obviously, I love hearing David sing the way he does (proved by my travels) but I also love when he tries something different.
Wheelhouse – a place or situation in which one is advantageously at ease.
guess we’ll have to agree to disagree… I thought it was a risky one to do and that it’s quite different than the songs on TOSOD and certainly a nice fresh departure from the power ballads of BEGIN. Heck, with his movements throughout the song and all, I thought he was about to start rapping! LOL
I’ll listen a couple more times with your comment in mind. My impression was purely from the show in Boise where I was probably straining too hard to understand the lyrics to fully appreciate his movements, etc.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BC2Erf0Fupt/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BC64EU2lump/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BC6318jlumN/?taken-by=lisatakis