Music Monday: Ooh La La, I wish that I knew what I know now
Posted By RichC on November 26, 2018
While watching some football last week with Taylor and Megan, who were over for a late Thanksgiving (they had Thanksgiving with her family too), an Amazon Echo commercial triggered both a father-to-son conversation about growing up and Music Monday memory. The song Ooh La La recorded 
back in 1973 by the English band Faces, was a bit before I was really paying very much attention to music, but was popular enough to have been performed by several of the band members for years and years.
The father/son conversation part came from the lyrics, “I wish that I knew what I know now,” and went two ways. First, we ALL likely have learned from our life experiences and have thought how we could have improved our choices and decisions … in relationships and life in general. Second, and a bit more optimistic advice, was that the lack of fear and life-long experience offers the boldness to take on opportunity without as much fear of the risk. I have often mused that “not knowing” much about the pitfalls of starting a business gave me a degree of blindness and confidence necessary to take each step. Only later in life do we recognize all the unbillable labor of dealing with bureaucracy and the liability if I were to make a mistake — knowing this now, I’m not sure I would have taken the risk. Not knowing all the details made the decision far easier. Anyway, Ooh La La is a memorable song!
| Ooh La La – Faces | 1973 – Lyrics below |
Poor old granddad
I laughed at all his words
I thought he was a bitter man
He spoke of woman’s waysThey’ll trap you, then they use you
Before you even know
For love is blind and you’re far too kind
Don’t ever let it showI wish that I knew what I know now
When I was younger
I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was strongerThe can can’s such a pretty show
They’ll steal your heart away
But backstage, back on earth again
The dressing rooms are grayThey come on strong and it ain’t too long
Before they make you feel a man
But love is blind and you soon will find
You’re just a boy againWhen you want her lips, you get a cheek
Makes you wonder where you are
If you want some more and she’s fast asleep
Then she’s twinkling with the starsPoor young grandson, there’s nothing I can say
You’ll have to learn, just like me
And that’s the hardest way
Ooh la la, ooh la la la yehI wish that I knew what I know now
When I was younger
I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was strongerSongwriters: Ron Lane / Ronald David Wood / Ronnie Lane
Ooh La La lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
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