My buddy turned 30 and his wife threw him a big surprise bash Saturday, which I wrote about in this week's Bar Tab column "Buck Turns the Big 3-0."

In honor of Buck leaving his 20s behind â€” something I will be doing early next year and yes, it's getting to me a little â€” I have compiled a list of songs that speak to aging.

Particularly, the fact that my friends and I are aging. And for the first time in my life, I'm starting to feel old. Like when I hang out with people younger than me and pass out at the after party.

1. "I Don't Wanna Grow Up," Tom Waits

2. "Wishing All These Old Things Were New," Merle Haggard

3. "Old Man," Neil Young

4. "Growin' Up," Bruce Springsteen

5. "Middle Age Crazy" / "Thirty Nine and Holding," Jerry Lee Lewis

6. "Hello in There," John Prine

7. "Yesterday's Wine," Willie Nelson

8. "Not Dark Yet," Bob Dylan

9. "I Don't Need Your Rocking Chair," George Jones

10. "When I'm 64," The Beatles

This article appears in Aug 22-28, 2007.