Older Than Me

h introduced the debut live performance of Older than Me at the Sunday night set at the Marillion Weekend at Port Zelande 2023 as having been influenced by the film Harold and Maude.

Harold and Maude

Harold and Maude is a 1971 dark comedy film directed by Hal Ashby. The story follows Harold, a young man who is obsessed with death and goes to great lengths to stage fake suicides for his own amusement. His mother sets him up with various potential wives in an attempt to change his behavior, but he remains disinterested until he meets Maude, a free-spirited 79-year-old woman who teaches him to appreciate life and live in the moment. They develop a close bond and spend their time together attending funerals and engaging in other unconventional activities. However, Maude's perspective on life is challenged when Harold reveals his own plans for suicide.

The film is known for its exploration of dark themes such as death and suicide, but also for its humor and unique portrayal of the relationship between Harold and Maude. The film's soundtrack, composed by Cat Stevens, is also widely praised.

'Over the hill, And far away'
'Over the hill' is an idiomatic expression indicating that one has passed the mid-point of one's life and is heading towards the grave.

Over the Hills and Far Away is also a song title in common usage, with Led Zeppelin, Gary Moore and The Mission all having different songs with that name. However, the expression probably originates with the traditional English folk song of the same name, which dates from at least 1700. Several different versions of the lyrics exist.

Perhaps the best-known these days is the version used in the TV series Sharpe, by John Tams, based on the 1706 version by George Farquhar.

The entire album listing is included for completeness, but only songs with a link have explanations.

Volume 1: Essence