He really liked flannel with big bore arms   If you looked in his closet, it was all that you saw   He'd dress up on Sunday, a body looked neat   In a green leisure suit with wing tips on his feet      An' I hated the music he played in the car   It was hard to believe he called those people stars   They'd sang through their noses like they all had colds   I guess it's hard to be cool when you're forty years old      An' I was fifteen and real hip with long hair   An' I'd ask Mamma, I'm home "Why's Daddy so square?"   An' I couldn't believe all that he didn't know   I guess it's hard to be cool when you're forty years old      The night, I turned twenty, she came with the news   Scared half to death, an' didn't know what to do   An' I told her, "I'm sorry", but it's not too late   There's a doctor I've heard of, who fixes mistakes      An' I thought he was workin', an' I was alone   But he was standin' behind me when I hung up the phone   He said, "Son, there's a few things you don't know about   If you listen real close, we can figure this out"      'Cause I was eighteen and as wild as they came   When one night, a young girl told me the same thing   An' you wouldn't be here if she hadn't said no   You see, it's hard to be cool when you're twenty years old      These days I like flannel an' old Levi jeans   An' I look at my young boy, who just turned fifteen   An' I know what he's thinkin', but it's okay, you know   You see it's hard to be cool when you're fifteen years old