Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 27 Sep 17 - 01:19 PM

Any of those "parting songs" that include the line, "we may or might never all meet here again". Sadly, the "might never" bit keeps coming aroind all to frequently!

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 25 Sep 17 - 11:19 PM

I know of one senior's choir that uses this for their ending song.
You work and work for years and years, you're always on the go
You never take a minute off, too busy makin' dough
Someday, you say, you'll have your fun when you're a millionaire
Imagine all the fun you'll have in your old rockin' chair

   Chorus:
   Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think!
   Enjoy yourself. While you're still in the pink!
   The years go by, As quickly as a wink.
   Enjoy yourself. Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think.

You're gonna take that ocean trip, no matter, come what may
You've got your reservations but you just can't get away
Next year, for sure, you'll see the world, you'll really get around.


Lyric by Herb Magidson, Music by Carl Sigman
Copyright 1949, Edward H. Morris & Company, Inc

Longer Version - at Mudcat

http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=43914#644677

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

My 84 y.o. friend loves the song and loves her choir but laments her voice has moved from soprano to baritone.

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Johnny J
Date: 25 Sep 17 - 06:10 PM

Oops, last post was mine.

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Sep 17 - 06:03 PM

If you are really interested in music, you will likely enjoy a variety of styles but also from many generations.
I'm quite familiar with many songs and tunes of the World War One era and even before. Likewise the twenties, thirties and so on right up until the present day. I particularly enjoy the old jazz, blues standards and, of course, folk music from way back too.

So, don't assume that patients or residents are either too young or too old to enjoy or appreciate something. Of course, many people aren't that fussy about music and will only have a superficial interest and, perhaps, just remember a particular era. We should try and cater for everyone though.

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,pauperback
Date: 25 Sep 17 - 05:07 PM

Johnny Cash We'll Meet Again
I like this version, it reads well, (picture prefect retirement home, too, BTW).

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,pauperback
Date: 24 Sep 17 - 09:48 PM

Seems pretty ingrained into popular culture.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/We%27ll_Meet_Again

https://youtu.be/cHcunREYzNY

Revealing comments how viewers were lead to this song.

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 24 Sep 17 - 09:14 PM

Have to agree with others who have suggested that we should think about the age of those currently in nursing homes, and therefore what sort of music they might like. No-one left from WW1 now, and indeed have heard that WW1 songs can upset those who might have lost parents or other family members in that conflict. Even WW2 songs: very few of that era left now, so Vera Lynn stuff almost gone beyond: sorry about "We'll Meet Again" Heading rapidly for that category.
Probably 50s/early 60s stuff the order of the day: Lonnie Donegan, Chuck Berry, Elvis Preley, Buddy Holly, Everly Bros, Beatles, etc. But yes, a few wee light classical tunes shouldn't go amiss: anything for "Your Hundred Best Tunes"!

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Peter Cripps
Date: 24 Sep 17 - 06:35 AM

Classical tunes also go down well, they all seem to recognise and hum along to The Merry Widow waltz, Velia, Did you see my lady, Linden Lea, Chanson de matin, Die Lorelei.
Also a selection of tunes with peoples names are very useful, Mary the Rose of Tralee, My Bonnie Maureen, Lovely Joan, No John No

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 22 Sep 17 - 08:05 PM

I've always liked "We'll Meet Again" (don't know where, don't know when).

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Ron Davies
Date: 22 Sep 17 - 01:31 AM

Congratulations to you, Russ, and more power to you.   That's just great.

I go to a retirement community, not a nursing home--so my answer may not be what the thread is looking for.

   The folks are not young---but full of life.   And great stories. I go up there once a week and play piano for a 90-year old friend of mine to sing with. We have a series of songbooks--20's, 30's and 40's.   I like 50's, especially doo-wop, and some 60's.    But I have to admit that in the US at least, the best pop songs are 20's, 30's and 40s--heartfelt sentiments, great sense of humor, sophisticated melodies, etc.    When you start out with the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, and Hoagy Carmichael , you can't go too far wrong.

We can't even start til 9:30 or 10 at night, since before that, we might get somebody from the bridge or poker tables coming over with:   "You're disturbing our game.."    Fortunately Helen is a night owl--in fact she likes to sing til about midnight.

At any rate, we always close with the same 4 songs:    "Where or When" from a 30's book, then 3 more just a cappella---"Don't Fence Me In" (with the short 2 verses--which are great,) "Sentimental Journey"----she sings a harmony she learned probably about 70 years ago, and finally "Side by Side".

We invite others to join us but they are usually gone by midnight and usually seem to just want to listen.

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Russ, "Singalong"
Date: 19 Sep 17 - 01:30 PM

I am retired and have been doing Sing-a-longs at assisted living and Memory centers. I really love doing it, especially when I see folks perk up after just a song or two. I have been closing with "AMERICA" since I started a year or so ago. I have created over 150 pieces of music stored in my computer, available on demand. I started with music from the 20s and have kept adding songs by the year where I now have some 60s and 70s. My wife handles the computer and I work the front. Incidently I am about to be 87 years old so the old songs are right up my alley.
We are located near Atlanta Ga. and my happiest moment was when I got my 1st callback. I am now booking for next year. I use 2 12" speakers thru a mixer to balance the music, wireless mics etc.
I really love doing this and would encourage others, who are able, to
give it a try. I also want to thank the MUDCAT CAFE for the help I found on this site!

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Jackaroodave
Date: 21 Apr 17 - 10:17 PM

Well, as a whippersnapper of 70, I like to think that I'd go for something like Chuck Berry's closer, Johnny B. Goode. But who knows what I'll feel like when the time comes.

Still, closing with something up-beat and up-tempo might be nice. I noticed that Bye Bye Blues was first a big hit in 1930, by Ambrose; then Cab Calloway did it in1941; Les Paul and Mary Ford in 1952; and Freddy (Boom Boom) Cannon and Duane Eddy in the 60s. And many many others.

It's a farewell song of a fashion that almost everyone would be familiar with, and some may have danced to it. It's short, so you could do it twice, second time as a sing-along if appropriate.

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Apr 17 - 08:58 PM

We'll Meet Again

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Mar 17 - 10:32 PM

Closing songs vary. But one song that always goes down well when a bunch of us does a care home gig is Folsom Prison Blues.

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Helen
Date: 21 Mar 17 - 01:13 AM

Here it is:


Old Folkies' Home/Retirement Village

One of my favourite threads that I started back in 1999.

Helen

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Eddie1
Date: 20 Mar 17 - 04:37 PM

There's a song, written by the Danoffs and recorded by John Denver. Good if you sing the verses and teach the audience the chorus but I reckon even better if you just do the chorus! Once they have learnt it you can do it quieter and quieter till you finish.

My friends I will remember you
And think of you and pray for you
And when another day is through
I'll still be friends with you.

Eddie

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Helen
Date: 20 Mar 17 - 02:59 PM

I'm only halfway through reading this thread, but what Genie said on 16 Oct 02 - 10:30 PM is what I have been thinking about for quite a while.

I've been wondering if any of the seniors have requested Stairway to Heaven which was released in 1971 and is considered a classic. Hate to remind us all of how old we are, but 1971 was 46 years ago. If someone loved that song in their 20's when it first came out, then they would be in their 60's at least, now, and that song has cut through generations over the decades. It has a huge following.

Daisy Bell, We'll Meet Again, etc are not really the songs that most older folks would have listened to.

Having said that, I don't perform at seniors events or anywhere else, but I also love a whole range of music and I especially love songs and tunes from the swing era.

My greatest fear, if I end up in a seniors' home, is that I will get wheeled into a concert, patted on the hand by a well-meaning nurse or attendant and told, "You'll enjoy this lovely music" and then be subjected to music which was out of fashion when my now deceased grandmother was a girl. (She was born in 1901.)

I'll be the disruptive person at the back of the room yelling out, "play Stairway to Heaven".

Which then leads me back to my bright idea of opening an old folkies home, where WE would be the ones playing the music.

I'll find my old thread and put a link in, when I get back home from work.

Helen

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,DTM
Date: 18 Mar 17 - 02:10 PM

BTW, "Show Me The Way To Go Home" is by default a no-no.

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Mar 17 - 02:09 PM

How old are these folks ? Must be near a bloody hundred in view of what some of you are playing for them. I play a few Buddy Holly things, That'll Be The Day goes down a treat....Patsy Cline's I fall to Pieces..and everyone seems to know Downtown by Petula Clark.I try to get out of the thirties and forties and sing some fifties and sixties stuff...many of these folks are in early seventies and know a lot of fifties and sixties stuff. Give it a try, you'll be amazed !

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 18 Mar 17 - 01:46 PM

"Happy trails to you" ~ Dale Evans. Don't neglect the whole A B A (I.e., include the 'some trails' part) ~a never fail tune with the 75+ Crowd most of US, Canada
keep on pickin'
dennis

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: eftifino
Date: 18 Mar 17 - 09:26 AM

Ray Charles' You know the night time is the right time"

"We'll meet again" is a good older chestnut.

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Mar 17 - 07:22 AM

"We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do...."

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Merritt
Date: 17 Mar 17 - 07:40 PM

On the Sunny Side of the Street, McHugh/Fields, 1930. (For a while I also ended solo bar gigs with this one.) You play that extended intro - "I walked with no one and talked with no one, I had nothing but shadows. Then one morning you passed, and I brightened at last, etc." and folks wonder what you're up to, and then the actual song kicks and they get it.

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jan 17 - 08:08 PM

Ring of Fire...folks need something to look forward to...

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 13 Jan 17 - 05:21 PM

In the meantime, one of our local crematoria got closed down for repairs............because of -------------------a fire! (this happened in March 2015, and still it is not open again for business!)

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: oldhippie
Date: 13 Jan 17 - 02:53 PM

I vote for the "Remember Song" by Tom Rush.

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 08:00 PM

I did have trouble keeping a straight face at a funeral once when the carefully chosen music was A Whiter Shade of Pale!

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Musket
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 06:16 AM

"The Old Rugged Cross." That takes me back...

I was a volunteer on hospital radio for many years and that was possibly the most requested song of them all. At a national conference, at the disco later, a then famous disk jockey who did the gig for us (Noel Edmunds) said that if we had any requests, put them on a beer mat and flick them over. Ten mins later, he pointed out that The Old Rugged Cross was funny the first beer mat, but by the fiftieth.....

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 22 Sep 14 - 04:05 AM

I'll fly away. (Mentioned way up the thread, but a good one!)

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 10:21 AM

Not sure if this would work nowadays as I haven't performed at a senior home for over 20 years but my previous wife and I used to close with (Shimmy Like My) Sister Kate. During the last chorus my wife would get up and do a flapper dance ala Betty Boop and that just slayed them. If it was an evening show we'd close with Goodnight Irene or Old Black Joe to send them to bed as they all seem to know the words and would sing along. This sure brings back a lot of warm memories.

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 08:06 AM

Goodbyee, Old Rugged Cross, Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye. To be honest heaven forbid I'm ever in such a home, but if I was, and you came round singing songs like those I'd use my last ounce of strength to get up and break your F'#**&* neck!

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 01:55 AM

I use "You Are My Sunshine" and torch it up a bit, so I can flirt with the nonagenarian ladies. I point out the thinly-veiled threat in the song, "You'll regret it all some day." The septuagenarian ladies who sing with me aren't so sure they like to sing the verses of the song, since them verses aren't as sunshiny as one might expect.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Denis McKay
Date: 21 Sep 14 - 01:43 AM

The Remember Song. Or Get up and Go.

Our trio usually finishes with Larry Penn's Time to Go (fabulous song!).

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Sep 14 - 11:28 PM

theres a lot to be said for I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts - complete with how you father! and have a banana! interjections.

always cheers me up!

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Elmore
Date: 20 Sep 14 - 09:56 PM

Rolling Home.

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: bubblyrat
Date: 20 Sep 14 - 06:03 AM

"Death Is Not The End "

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: nager
Date: 20 Sep 14 - 03:23 AM

Songs recorded by the likes of Dean Martin, the Every Brothers, Buddy Holly, Burl Ives etc and even the early Beatles are often requested when I perform. A few still like You Are My Sunshine etc but in the past six years since I have been entertaining at retirement homes etc much of the music they want has changed from the 1940s songs to those from the 50s and 60s.
But they still enjoy a few good quality folk and country ballads and Irish and Scottish songs especially those with an easy chorus they can sing along to.
And as for those songs from the musicals, I leave those to the choirs that come along - and the residents love them.

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,mauvepink
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 06:32 PM

Forever Young

mp

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 06:23 PM

"Ramblin' Rover" by Andy M. Stewart is always appreciated, particularly with the last verse being:

If you're bent wi' arthiritis,
Your bowels have got Colitis,
You've gallopin' bollockitis
And you're thinkin' it's time you died,
If you been a man o' action,
Though you're lying there in traction,
You will get some satisfaction
Thinkin', "Jesus, at least I tried."

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 01:24 PM

May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xoaM0wX9I7s

~S~

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Rahere
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 01:01 PM

Wait till punk comes around...

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 12:52 PM

Vaya Con Dios

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Musket
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 12:40 PM

A room full of old biddies and Musket crooning away,

""And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain"

Don't laugh, it has happened. (Request and yes, I did remember the words.. I wouldn't do it on purpose!). Dunno why I didn't go to a fancy dress shop and get a grim reaper outfit and do it properly.. I was going to end with a medley of You are my sunshine / Kiss me goodnight sergeant major / etc.. That said, a today's care home would have the next generation to when I did that..

Interesting question. Perhaps a few old rock n roll hits.

🎸🎸🎸🎷🎷🎷

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,PeterC
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 11:03 AM

We mostly play UK folk songs, and country dance tunes. What seems to be most popular is the kind of folk songs they sang at school - Johnny's so long at the fair, Annie Laurie, Skye Boat Song, Mhairi's Wedding etc. They get enough pop music from TV and radio!

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 09:42 AM

THESE days, nursing homes are likely to be populated by those who were teenagers in the 50s and 60s, so I think an update on all those pre-war songs is very much overdue!

How about:

Shakin' All Over
Walk Don't Run
At Last
See You Later Alligator
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
Got My Mojo Working

etc.....

If they're STILL playing bloody "Good Night Irene" and "Bye Bye Blackbird" when *I'M* in a nursing home, I'll be VERY unhappy. Better start practicing "Born to Be Wild"; "Bobby Brown Goes Down" and "My Generation" folks!

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Sep 14 - 09:14 AM

We sing "We,ll Meet Again My Friends
Somewhere down the line
Who knows where or when, another place another time
We,ll sing a few old songs, And memories from our mind
Yes, I know we,ll meet again my friends
Somewhere down the line

Another day is over
Another day gone by
With good friends all around me
My how the time does fly
Its hard to find the words I want to say
But friends Ill try
God Bless You All and keep you
Till we meet again goodbye

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: EBarnacle
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 11:52 AM

When You and I were young, Maggie

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,HughM
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 08:09 AM

Maggie
The Rowan Tree

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Grim Reaper
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 05:21 AM

How about Shel Silverstein's 'You're Still Gonna Die' !!!!

Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 10 Aug 10 - 04:46 AM

I'd imagine that, by now, Nursing Home players ought to be thinking of moving on to Elvis, Bill Hailey and Eddie Cochran stuff!

Even my mum, who's 94 and who would attend a day-centre until a year or two back, would complain that the songs the visiting musicians played were "too old fashioned...why can't they play something a bit more recent? I don't just want to keep hearing songs from the war. That were a long time ago."