“Help the Aged” is a song by British alternative rock band Pulp from their 1998 album, This Is Hardcore. Written as a sarcastic reflection of Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker’s ageing, the song was disliked by Pulp guitarist Russell Senior who left the band before the song’s release and sought to prevent it from being released as a single.
“Help the Aged” was released as the first single from This Is Hardcore in November 1997, reaching number eight in the UK. The song has since seen positive critical reception, with many critics praising the song’s lyrics for their wit and compassion.
Help the aged,
One time they were just like you
Drinking, smoking cigs and sniffing glue
Help the aged
Don’t just put them in a home
Can’t have much fun when they’re all on their own
Give a hand, if you can
Try and help them to unwind
Give them hope and give them comfort
‘Cause they’re running out of time
In the meantime we try
Try to forget that nothing lasts forever
No big deal, so give us all a feel
Funny how it all falls away
When did you first realize?
It’s time you took an older lover, baby
Teach you stuff, although he’s looking rough
Funny how it all falls away
Help the aged
‘Cause one day you’ll be older too
You might need someone who can pull you through
And if you look very hard
Behind those lines upon their face
You may see where you are headed
And it’s such a lonely place, oh
In the meantime we try
Try to forget that nothing lasts forever
No big deal so give us all a feel
Funny how it all falls away
When did you first realize?
It’s time you took an older lover baby
Teach you stuff although he’s looking rough
Funny how it all falls away
You can dye your hair but it’s the one thing you can’t change
Can’t run away from yourself, yourself, yours-s-s-s-self
In the meantime we try
Try to forget that nothing lasts forever
No big deal, so give us all a feel
Funny how it all falls away.
When did you first realize?
It’s time you took an older lover, baby
Teach you stuff, although he’s looking rough
Funny how it all falls away
Oh, it’s funny how it all falls away
Funny how it all falls away
Oh, it’s funny how it all, how it all falls away
So help the aged
Delìrivm Còrdia 