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 o.k., you know.

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