Ooh La La

Rod Stewart's 'Ooh La La' is a reflective and poignant song that delves into the wisdom gained through life's experiences, particularly in the realm of love and relationships. The song is narrated from the perspective of an older man, possibly a grandfather, who looks back on his younger days with a sense of regret and a wish for the knowledge he has now. The lyrics convey a sense of nostalgia and the bittersweet realization that the lessons learned through hardship and heartache could have been avoided if only he had known better when he was younger.

The song opens with the narrator recalling his grandfather's advice about women and love, advice he once dismissed as the ramblings of a bitter old man. The grandfather's warnings about the manipulative ways of love and the blindness it can cause are now understood and appreciated by the narrator, who has experienced these truths firsthand. The chorus, with its repeated wish for the wisdom of age during youth, underscores the universal longing for the ability to navigate life's challenges with the benefit of hindsight.

The verses paint vivid pictures of the allure and subsequent disillusionment that often accompany romantic pursuits. The can-can, a lively and enticing dance, symbolizes the initial excitement and attraction, while the gray dressing rooms represent the mundane reality that follows. The narrator's experiences of being led on and ultimately left unfulfilled highlight the recurring theme of love's deceptive nature. The song concludes with the narrator acknowledging that his grandson will have to learn these lessons on his own, just as he did, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life's learning process.

'Ooh La La' is a timeless reflection on the inevitability of making mistakes and the invaluable lessons they impart. It speaks to the universal human experience of growing older and wiser, and the often painful but necessary journey of learning through living.