COVER VERSIONS

As of July 2025, there are over 75 professional cover versions of John Lennon's 'Grow Old With Me.’ They range in style from pop to rock, country, jazz, gospel, and everything in between. There are instrumental, a capella, duet, and full band versions. While most are in English, there are versions of ‘Grow Old With Me’ sung in Italian, Finnish, and Swedish.

The earliest cover version of ‘Grow Old With Me’ that I am aware of was released by Foreign Affair as a single in 1984, the same year Milk and Honey was released. Marco Bonino released a version in 1985. John Vickers released a cover version in 1987. The Poles released two versions in 1988, which were other early versions.

Since John Lennon Anthology was released in 1998, very few years have gone by when there hasn’t been at least one cover version issued. The best known cover versions of ‘Grow Old With Me’ include one by Mary Chapin Carpenter released in 1995. That version was on the Lennon tribute album Working Class Hero. (It is also included on the compilation album Party Dolls & Other Favorites in 1999.) Carpenter’s version went to number 17 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart.[1]

The Postal Service recorded a version of the song for the 2007 compilation album Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. (It was also included in the 10th anniversary deluxe edition of the album Give Up.) Glen Campbell recorded ‘Grow Old With Me’ on his 2008 album Meet Glen Campbell. Campbell also recorded a live version in 2008 that was subsequently released on the Live from the Troubadour album in 2021.

Finally, Ringo Starr released a version of the song in 2019 on his What’s My Name? album. (See the separate section on Starr’s version.)

Below is a list of all known professional cover versions of John Lennon's 'Grow Old With Me.’ The genre designations are based off iTunes designations and, where necessary, designations from Discogs. (Yes, at times they are questionable.) I have linked to the YouTube versions if one is available. (Songs with links are bolded.) I have linked to other places where necessary. You can also listen to Spotify versions of some of them on a playlist I created.

I am fond of many of these versions. I’ve starred ones below that I particularly like, two stars next to versions I love.

That said, I believe that the definitive cover version of John Lennon’s ‘Grow Old With Me’ has yet to be recorded. Many versions capture the grace and tenderness of the song. Far fewer capture the grandeur and anthemic drive that I personally hear in Lennon’s home demo. Almost none capture both, as Lennon did.

If you are aware of other officially released cover versions of ‘Grow Old With Me,’ please contact me.

See a curated list of other cover versions of ‘Grow Old With Me’ here. This includes professional (but not formally released), semi-professional, and amateur versions.

[1] Billboard Magazine, Adult Contemporary Chart. May 4, 1996. p86.