George once said to me and I quote

He said, “Never wait or hesitate
Get in kid before it’s too late
You may never get another chance”

“‘Cause youth’s a mask but it don’t last
Live it long and live it fast”
Georgie was a friend of mine

—The Killing of Georgie, Rod Stewart (1976)

I loved that song from the first moment I heard it. It was on my brother’s album “A Night on the Town,” which incidentally was my young adult self’s favourite ‘romantic’ album (it had a fast side and a slow side and featured Tonight’s the Night…).

The song as a whole is a lovely ballad about the narrator’s gay friend and his tragic end, but I’ve always loved the sentiment of the last verses…

A 70 year-old gentleman said something similar to me yesterday. His comment was a bit regret-filled…