🌅 Tuesday Morning Reflection | Old Man in the Corner
Why do you think “Old Man in the Corner” resonates with people?
This Tuesday morning, I woke up to find that it’s the #1 song on my channel. Out of all the music and stories I’ve shared, this is the one that so many of you are listening to. And I’ve been reflecting on why.
The phrase “old man in the corner” began with me at the karate school. I’d use it to describe my place these days — not always running drills in the center, but sitting back, watching, listening, and guiding from the edges. People would often say, “You’re not old! Age is just a number!” But I embrace it.
To me, being “old” isn’t a weakness. It’s an honor. It’s carrying years of lessons, scars, and stories that only time can give. It’s having a vantage point. Corners aren’t limits — they’re places of perspective.
That’s the heart of this song.
🌟 The Background
I first started calling myself “the old man in the corner” at the karate school. I meant it half as a joke — but mostly as a way to honor the years I’ve lived and the perspective I’ve gained.
Many people rush to say, “You’re not old!” But I embrace it. To me, “old” means tested, seasoned, shaped by scars and strengthened by time.
The phrase also comes from literature — Baroness Emmuska Orczy’s The Old Man in the Corner (1908). Her old man was an “armchair detective,” quietly solving mysteries from a café. He didn’t need to chase villains — his gift was perspective. That image stuck with me.
So I wrote this song as my anthem: a reminder that corners aren’t limits. They’re vantage points.
✍️ The Lyrics — and Their Meaning
Verse 1
Pull up a chair, pour a little truth,
Every scar I carry is living proof.
Not chasing fights, not chasing fame,
I’ve learned the rules of this life game.
➡️ These opening lines speak to what the years give us: scars that tell stories, lessons learned not from chasing noise, but from living fully. Strength comes not from the spotlight, but from experience.
Chorus
I’m the old man in the corner, steady and free,
Sharing life lessons life handed to me.
Dining room table or a park bench seat,
Everywhere I sit, the circle’s complete.
➡️ The chorus declares that wisdom isn’t bound to one place. My “corner” could be the karate school counter, a café, my dining table, or even this radio show. Wherever I sit, I can share what life has taught me — and that’s enough.
Verse 2
Some say “you’re not old, age is just a sign,”
But I’ll honor these years — they’re lessons of mine.
Well, okay, I still roll, I still play the game,
But wisdom’s my weapon, and Living Strong’s my name.
➡️ This verse playfully answers those who resist the word “old.” Yes, I still train, still roll in BJJ — but I’ve also earned the right to honor my years. My identity isn’t diminished by age — it’s strengthened by it.
Bridge (spoken)
Corners aren’t limits, they’re vantage points.
Not hiding, but seeing.
Not stuck, but steady.
Every corner’s a classroom.
Every seat’s a pulpit.
Every moment’s a chance to shine.
➡️ This bridge is the heartbeat of the song. Corners are not where life ends — they’re where wisdom begins. From every seat, we can teach, guide, listen, and encourage.
💡 Why I Wrote It
I wanted to write a song that says: I am proud of my years. I am proud of my scars. I am proud of my corner.
Because each of us has one — a place where our perspective can become a gift to others.
❓ Back to You
So let me ask again: Why do you think “Old Man in the Corner” resonates with people?
Is it the honesty of embracing age?
The reminder that wisdom is earned?
Or the truth that all of us — no matter where we sit — have something to offer?
💭 Drop your thoughts below. I’d love to hear what this song means to you.