This is an
idea that
came to me in a dream. I can't get it out of my head. I think it happened after listening to too much
Yes,
Radiohead, and
Transatlantic (mostly the latter, truth be told.)
Anyway, This Old Man is a song in parts. Twelve parts according to the writeup, but I think it could have infinitely many parts if you could find enough things that rhyme with numbers that you could play "knick-knack" on. So the song structure would basically have a 5 minute instrumental buildup, then each verse of the song with 2-3 minute expressions of each verse, then leading up to a climax of typical bombastic progressive rock proportions. Perhaps you'd write some existential crap lyrics attempting to describe the Sisyphus-ian futility of it all, to make it profound. and apparently justifying the song.
It would not be the first time a progressive rock band bastardized a nursery rhyme, and it probably wouldn't be the last either.
I donate this idea to the public domain, and absolve myself of all responsibility for what happens next.