How Old Were The Traveling Wilburys? ‘Handle with Care’ and Midlife Reflection

Approaching my 55th birthday, I find myself finally embracing the reality of being middle-aged. I’m not becoming middle-aged, nor will I soon be; I am middle-aged. It’s a realization less defined by arbitrary age brackets suggested by articles and more by the soundtrack of my life – the music that has accompanied me through different phases. From playing The Beatles on a new turntable as a teenager, to sharing Los Lobos with my dad, cranking Neil Young in my first home, dancing to John Hiatt with my young daughters, relaxing with Nanci Griffith, or blasting Van Morrison on a quiet Sunday, music has marked the passage of time.

Now, on the cusp of 55, I’m revisiting music from earlier years and finding new resonance. My college job at a record store introduced me to a new album by a mysterious group called The Traveling Wilburys. To my young eyes, they seemed older, perhaps even old. A closer look revealed they weren’t just any musicians; they were rock and roll legends, forming what some consider the ultimate supergroup.

Using familial pseudonyms, the lineup was legendary: George Harrison of The Beatles was Nelson Wilbury, Jeff Lynne of ELO was Otis Wilbury, Tom Petty of The Heartbreakers was Charlie T. Wilbury, Roy Orbison, the iconic 1950s star, was Lefty Wilbury, and Bob Dylan, that Bob Dylan, was Lucky Wilbury.

While fictionalized band folklore humorously attributes their origin to a strange malady, the actual formation story in 1988 is far more compelling. George Harrison needed a b-side track for a single from his Cloud Nine album, which Jeff Lynne was producing. While with Roy Orbison, they needed an immediate recording space. The only option was Bob Dylan’s garage in Malibu. As they set up, Dylan was barbecuing outside. Harrison went to borrow a guitar from neighbor Tom Petty. Soon, all five found themselves jamming in the garage, creating the song Harrison needed. When Dylan asked its name, Harrison, spotting a box labeled “Handle with Care,” named the song.

The five members of the Traveling Wilburys supergroup, including Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, and Tom Petty.

I will soon be three years older than Roy Orbison was when they recorded “Handle with Care.” Orbison was the eldest at 52 years old in 1988. Bob Dylan was 47, George Harrison was 45, Jeff Lynne was 41, and Tom Petty was the youngest at 38. Listening now, with more life experience, the song feels like a loving tribute to middle age and aging artists facing the pressures of staying relevant.

An Ode to Middle Age and Aging Rock Stars

The lyrics of “Handle with Care” resonate deeply, speaking to the shared experiences of the band members – and perhaps many navigating midlife:

“Been beat up and battered around
Been sent up, and I’ve been shot down
You’re the best thing that I’ve ever found
Handle me with care”

Each Wilbury had faced personal and professional trials. They’d experienced the highs of immense success and the lows of criticism or declining popularity. The line “Been beat up and battered around” speaks volumes for individuals who have lived intensely public or challenging lives.

“Reputation’s changeable
Situation’s tolerable
But baby, you’re adorable
Handle me with care”

Despite the disparate vocal styles, the blend works beautifully over acoustic guitars. Harrison’s sweet, melancholic voice leads, reflecting on life’s difficulties and finding solace. Roy Orbison’s signature operatic voice soars during the chorus, adding weight to lines about weariness and the need for connection:

“I’m so tired of being lonely
I still have some love to give
Won’t you show me that you really care?”

The song transitions from its sweet verse/chorus to a more dissonant bridge where Dylan and Petty harmonize, speaking to universal human needs and aspirations:

“Everybody’s got somebody to lean on
Put your body next to mine, and dream on“

While the initial lyrics feel universal, the following verses seem particularly poignant as a confessional from aging rock stars, reflecting on the less glamorous realities of the music business:

“I’ve been fobbed off, and I’ve been fooled
I’ve been robbed and ridiculed
In day-care centers and night schools
Handle me with care

Been stuck in airports, terrorised
Sent to meetings, hypnotised
Overexposed, commercialised
Handle me with care”

These lines paint a picture of the grind beyond the stage – navigating manipulative managers, endless travel, and the struggle to maintain artistic integrity amidst commercial pressures. The ease in their singing together suggests they found comfort and understanding in their shared experiences. The entire album carries a feeling of friends genuinely enjoying making music together.

Sadly, Roy Orbison passed away about six weeks after “Handle with Care” was released. However, Lefty (Lynne), Otis (Harrison), Charlie (Petty), and Nelson (Dylan) regrouped for a second excellent album, The Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 3.

The project seemed to spark creative resurgence for several members. Tom Petty released his massively successful first solo album, Full Moon Fever (produced by Jeff Lynne), in 1989, shortly after the Wilburys. George Harrison’s Cloud Nine (1987) had already been well-received, and he remained active throughout the 1990s. Bob Dylan, whose preceding albums had seen modest sales, followed the Wilburys with Oh Mercy, considered one of his finest works.

“I’ve been uptight and made a mess
But I’ll clean it up myself, I guess
Oh, the sweet smell of success
Handle me with care”

Conclusion

“Handle with Care” stands as a moving ode to middle age and the resilience of aging artists. It’s a statement of optimism, suggesting that meaningful success and connection are still possible, even after achieving legendary status decades prior. It’s a song that perfectly captures the blend of vulnerability, experience, and hope that comes with navigating later stages of life – a message as relevant to these rock legends as it is to anyone approaching their own midlife milestones. It’s a song I anticipate listening to often as I turn 55.

References:

• Handle with Care
• Written by the Traveling Wilburys
• Performed by the Traveling Wilburys
• Released October 17, 1988