He really liked flannel with big bore arms

If you looked in his closet, it was all that you saw

He'd dress up on Sunday; a body looked neat

In a green leisure suit with wing tips on his feet



An' I hated the music he played in the car

It was hard to believe he called those people stars

They'd sing through their noses like they all had colds

I guess it's hard to be cool when you're forty years old



An' I was fifteen and real hip with long hair

An' I'd ask my Momma, "Why's Daddy so square?"

An' I couldn't believe all that he didn't know

I guess it's hard to be cool when you're forty years old



The night I turned twenty, she came with the news

Scared half to death, an' didn't know what to do

I told her, "I'm sorry, but it's not too late

There's a doctor I've heard of who fixes mistakes."



An' I thought he was workin', an' I was alone

But he was standin' behind me when I hung up the phone

He said, "Son, there's a few things you don't know about

If you listen real close, we can figure this out."



"Cause I was eighteen and as wild as they came

When one night, a young girl told me the same thing

An' you wouldn't be here if she hadn't said no

You see, it's hard to be cool when you're twenty years old." 



These days I like flannel an' old Levi jeans

An' I look at my young boy, who just turned fifteen

An' I know what he's thinkin', but it's OK, you know

You see it's hard to be cool when you're fifteen years old