At 68, Rod Stewart has, like most people his age, reached the time in his life when he has started to think about calling it a day and relaxing after a lifetime of hard work. But in a new interview, he says that day won’t arrive for another 25 years.

“I do hope I’ve got the dignity and the awareness to bow out at the right time, which is when I’m 93,” he told the Detroit News. “We’ve been lucky, all of us.”

For all its humorous intent, Stewart made that comment in reference to a question about his fellow rock legends who are still going strong well into their advanced years, such as Elton John and the Rolling Stones, and he provided a bit more insight into why they continue to record and tour.

“It’s our job,” he said. “It’s what we do. It’s almost, I would say, it’s our identity and it’s very hard to give up, especially when you love what you do.”

Stewart’s words echo those by Paul McCartney, who spoke of his unwillingness to retire earlier this year. “For me, the main thing is I love making music so much. If I retired, I’d still do exactly what I do. So I may as well not retire…Retire from what? I’d do this for nothing.”

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