who wrote forever young

Several different artists have recorded songs titled “Forever Young” , so the answer depends on which version you mean.

Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young”

The most famous version was written and recorded by Bob Dylan.

• Dylan wrote it in Tucson, Arizona , around 1973, thinking about one of his sons as a kind of blessing‑style lullaby.

• It first appeared on his 1974 album Planet Waves in both slow and fast arrangements.

Rod Stewart’s “Forever Young”

There is also a different song with the same title by Rod Stewart :

• Stewart co‑wrote it with Jim Cregan and Kevin Savigar for his 1988 album Out of Order.

• Though it shares the title and theme, it is not a cover of Dylan’s song; Stewart later agreed to share songwriting credits and royalties with Dylan.

Alphaville’s “Forever Young”

Another well‑known track is:

• Alphaville ’s 1984 synth‑pop hit “Forever Young,” written by band members Marian Gold , Bernhard Lloyd , and Frank Mertens.

• This version is famous for its 1980s new‑wave sound and Cold‑War‑era political undertones rather than being a parent‑to‑child blessing.

Quick reference table

Song title / artist| Main songwriter(s)| Year/album context
---|---|---
“Forever Young” – Bob Dylan| Bob Dylan| 1974, Planet Waves 15
“Forever Young” – Rod Stewart| Rod Stewart , Jim Cregan, Kevin Savigar| 1988, Out of Order 35
“Forever Young” – Alphaville| Marian Gold, Bernhard Lloyd, Frank Mertens| 1984, Forever Young album 67

If you tell me which artist or era you’re thinking of (Dylan, Rod Stewart, Alphaville, or another), I can zoom in on that specific version and its background.