Hello all. My roommate and I are trying to figure out Stan Roger's song, 45 years.

He says before singing it, "This is for my wife." Is it actually about his wife?

And where does the 45 years come from? I don't think that the song's "I" and the woman have been together 45 years, since he says, "after 23 years...". Is the woman 45 years old? If so, that seems a little young to have had two failed marriages and then a 23 year marriage. Or is 45 a random number chosen to fit the line? But there are lots of numbers that would work there, like, say, 23.

Thanks to anyone who can enlighten me. And please not that I'm not requesting the lyrics here, I know them.

Thanks, Marion