“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
There’s something uniquely charming about The Twentieth Century Is Almost Over. Sung by the legendary Highwaymen, this song carries a nostalgic tone wrapped in humor, reflecting on a century that brought incredible change, invention, and upheaval. But what makes it so special isn’t just the historical references—it’s how the song makes us reflect on the passing of time with a wink and a grin.
Written by the great Steve Goodman and John Prine, two masters of storytelling through music, the song was released in 1984. Its playful lyrics capture that bittersweet moment of realization: the 20th century, with all its grandeur and chaos, was coming to an end. But the Highwaymen don’t let that thought get too serious—they turn it into something lighthearted and relatable, almost as if they’re sitting with you on your porch, reflecting on how far we’ve come and where we’re headed next.
With lines like “The Beatles and the Rolling Stones are now in the oldies section,” the song pokes fun at how quickly time passes and how the icons of yesterday quickly become pieces of history. And yet, it’s not a lament. There’s no sadness here—just a sense of wonder at how much the world had transformed over a hundred years. We went from horse-drawn carriages to space travel, from telegrams to telephones, and yet, as the song reminds us, some things never change. People still love, laugh, and live through it all.
What makes this song resonate so deeply is its ability to connect with anyone who has watched time pass by and felt that pang of nostalgia. Even if you’re too young to have lived through the bulk of the 20th century, the song’s lyrics have a way of pulling you into that experience. It’s like looking through a family photo album, flipping through pictures of things you might not remember but can still appreciate.
And then, of course, there’s the delivery. The Highwaymen—Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings—bring their distinctive voices together to give the song a weight that only legends like them can provide. Their deep, gravelly tones seem to underscore the idea that, while time marches on, it’s the stories we tell, and the music we make, that leave a lasting legacy.
The 20th century may be over, but The Twentieth Century Is Almost Over serves as a reminder that even as the years pass, there’s always room to look back with a smile and a sense of gratitude. After all, every ending is just another beginning, and as we step into new eras, songs like this one remind us to carry our stories, our humor, and our memories forward.
Video
Lyrics
Back in 1899
When everyone was singing auld lang syne
A century took a long
Long time for every boy and girl
Now there’s only one thing that
I’d like to know
Where did the 20th century go
I’d swear it was here just a minute ago
All over this world
And now the 20th century is almost over
Almost over, almost over
The 20th century is almost over
Does anyone remember the great depression
I read all about it in true confession
I’m sorry I was late
For the recording session
But somebody put me on hold
Has anybody seen my linoleum floors
Petroleum jelly, and two world wars
They got stuck in the revolving doors
The winter’s getting colder
Summer’s getting hotter
Wishing well’s wishing for another
Drop of water
And mother earth’s blushing because
Somebody caught her
Making love to the man in the moon
Tell me how you’re going to keep
Them down on the farm
Now that outer space has lost it’s charm
Somebody set off a burglar alarm
And not a moment too soon because
Old father time has got his toes tapping
Standing in the window
Grumbling and a rapping
Everybody’s waiting for something to happen
Tell me if it happens to you
The judgment day is getting nearer
There it is in the rear view mirror
If you duck down I could see a little clearer