Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs

09 Oct 02 - 07:15 PM (#799883)
Subject: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: wilco

    I'm curious about the material that others use to close with in nursing homes. I like to close with "May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You," or with "It is No Secret." I've been thinking of using "Sailing Down the River of your Memory." How about it? What's your closing song?

Wilco In Tennessee

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09 Oct 02 - 07:22 PM (#799891)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Genie

Happy Trails
Now Is The Hour
Till We Meet Again
I'll Be Seeing You
Bye-bye, Blackbird
So Long, It's Been Good To Know Ya
God Be With You Till We Meet Again
I'll See You In My Dreams
Goodnight, Irene
Goodnight, Ladies
God Bless America*
Show Me The Way To Go Home*

These are all popular ones for the retirement and nursing homes where I do music.

Genie

*This are, hands down, the favorites -- except, for Jewish homes, I'd add "Havenu Shalom Aleichem."

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09 Oct 02 - 07:22 PM (#799892)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Leadfingers

I usually close a Pub Set with Show me the way to Go Home,or perhaps
Go Me The Way To Show Home.With a bit of Indicate the Way to My Particular Abode thrown in.

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09 Oct 02 - 07:51 PM (#799919)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: tar_heel

always leave them happy,smiling,even dancing if possible...dang,no mournful tunes to close out the show...they are alone after you are gone and the way you leave them is the last thing that they remember!
give them all the happiness that you have...down to the last note!!!!

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09 Oct 02 - 08:00 PM (#799933)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Genie

But, of course, Leadfingers! Ya gots ta do whut I calls "the W. C. Fields version" of "Show Me The Way To Go Home," too!

BTW, my post should read "These are, hands down ..., " not "This are, hands down ...". (Incomplete editing, there.)

But, Tar Heel, I don't agree with your categorical prescription. The residents themselves often REQUEST "I'll Be Seeing You," "Now Is The Hour," and "Till We Meet Again." I sing what they want to hear, and those are among their favorites, even if they do bring back bittersweet memories and sometimes bring a tear to the eye. (Tears are not the enenmy; depression is.)

Genie

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09 Oct 02 - 08:23 PM (#799964)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: open mike

i hope it is not too in-appropriate,
i always like bob dylan's forever young...
i think it brings out the kid in all of us--
and it is like a prayer...and a lullaby--
i use if for all occasions, birthdays, etc.
Laurel

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09 Oct 02 - 08:25 PM (#799968)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Snuffy

"They Tried To Tell Us We're Too Young" is popular

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09 Oct 02 - 08:44 PM (#799984)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Sorcha

We do several of the above but never last. Wel always do Florida Blues last and that is a cue for those who want to leave. Those who want to gossip with us can always stay; there are always several.

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09 Oct 02 - 09:20 PM (#800010)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Mudlark

Dear Genie


"Tears are not the enenmy; depression is."

An important thought for all of us, in or out of old folk's homes.

However, i always close with You are my Sunshine, beacuase in alzeimer's wards it's the one song everyone can sing along with...we often do it 2 or even 3 times....

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09 Oct 02 - 10:20 PM (#800042)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Genie

Per request, here is a link to an earlier thread with the SMTWTGH version I jokingly call "the W. C. Fields version," because it sounds like the way he talked.

Genie

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09 Oct 02 - 11:07 PM (#800061)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Amos

I was gonna say "Now the Day is Over", but I guess it's just too risqué. Bless you for doing what you do, anyway!

A

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10 Oct 02 - 08:24 AM (#800255)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: wilco

"You Are My Sunshine" and "Good Night Irene" are both great sing-a-long songs. I guess what I'm asking for is a closing song that would give a message of compassion, understanding, and support. I don't like to close with a sad or slow song either, but this is a different setting.
I do some upbeat and humorous songs too, like "Give Him One More as he Goes," "Leftover Buscuits," "Sweet Violets," I'll Fly Away," "This world is not my home," "While I was Praying," "I saw the Light" etc.
How does "Havenu Shalom Aleichem" go, and what do the words mean.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!

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10 Oct 02 - 10:18 AM (#800319)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Sorcha

Havenu Shalom Alechem
Havenu shalom alechem,
Havenu shalom alechem,
Havenu shalom alechem,
Havenu shalom, shalom
Shalom alechem
(repeat indefinitely)

(Peace be with you!)


More Hebrew songs here.

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10 Oct 02 - 11:25 AM (#800374)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Skipper Jack

What about "Now Is The Hour"?

Remember the festival of Britain?

Well they had all these street parties, I gate crashed everyone in my local area! The one song that was done to death (The street party MC had all the kids singing it!) was "Irene Goodnight."

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11 Oct 02 - 10:32 AM (#801080)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Gern

I've felt good about playing the old hymn "Going Home," and I hope some in the audience has felt the same.

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11 Oct 02 - 01:06 PM (#801195)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Genie

Wilco, ("I guess what I'm asking for is a closing song that would give a message of
compassion, understanding, and support. I don't like to close with a sad or slow song either... ")

I usually try to end with a song that is some sort of "parting" song AND/OR an upbeat, fun song. This is why "Show Me The Way To Go Home,"Bye-bye, Blackbird," and "Goodnight, Irene" are favorites, I think. (I don't use the "...take a great notion to jump in the river and drown..." or "...gonna take morphine and die..." verses of "Irene" in nursing homes.)

But it makes a difference whether it's a general sing-along, a "musical memories" activity, or a party. For parties, I close with something like SMTWTGH or Beer Barrel Polka or Goodnight, Ladies or the "Adios, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodnight" song that ends every Lawrence Welk show. But some of the slow "parting" songs that have been mentioned above are NOT depressing to these folks and evoke very rich memories of their youth. "Till We Meet Again" has got to be in the top 20 of song requests I get in senior facilities of all ilks.

Genie

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11 Oct 02 - 01:24 PM (#801223)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: wilco

genie: What are your top requests? And , in what part of the world?

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11 Oct 02 - 02:04 PM (#801246)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Bo Vandenberg

You generally have a more religeous crowd so you have some latitude you wouldnt have in other gigs. I think the Irish Prayer is very nice and eveyone will learn all the words quickly.

May the road Rise up to meet you
May the wind be ever at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
May the rain fall soft upon your fields
Until we meet again, may god hold you
In the hollow of his hand.

Its a nice sentiment which I think is more important than a dancing tune, if they are going to remember it.

Also the Mingulay Boat song is very nice for ending sets with.

sigurd

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11 Oct 02 - 02:22 PM (#801263)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Genie

Wilco, I play in senior homes on the US West Coast, primarily Seattle, San Diego, and the Portland/Salem/Vancouver area. I've no doubt that there would be some variations in requests if I were playing in Alabama, Maine, or in some other country. But the songs most requested tended to have widespread popularity in the US in their heyday -- especially the ones that were big in WWI or WWII.

Check out this link. I and several others posted lists of some of the songs most requested in "nursing homes," and that thread also gives links to several related threads. (Maybe the Joe Clones will add those links to this thread, too?)

Let me reiterate that the "top 40 list" will be different for Alzheimer's facilities, nursing/convalescent homes, assisted living facilities, retirement (independent living) residences, drop-in senior centers, adult day care centers, and various types of foster homes and group homes. The ages of residents/visitors can vary tremendously, as well as their cognitive funtioning level, ethnicity, religious orientation, etc. It never hurts to ask the staff for suggestions, as well as asking the residents themselves. I get a lot of requests for Elvis Presley songs, popular ballads and show tunes from the '50s, '60s, and '70s, in addition to requests for songs from the '20s through '40s. And "Tennessee Waltz" (©1951) is one of the most requested songs of all.

Genie

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11 Oct 02 - 02:36 PM (#801271)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: selby

A mate of mine used to leave them with the Keith Marsden,
Funeral song
That goes
They wheeled the coffin down the aisle
the choirboys sweetly sang
and used to have the residents in stiches but a fair bit of his repotiore was humour
Keith

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11 Oct 02 - 03:02 PM (#801287)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Genie

Another popular parting song is "Goodnight, Sweetheart" ("...till we meet tomorrow. Goodnight, sweetheart, dreams will banish sorrow..."), as is the one the McGuire Sisters sang, "Goodnight, Sweetheart, well, it's time to go ...Godnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight."

Genie

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14 Oct 02 - 11:47 PM (#803253)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST

refresh

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15 Oct 02 - 03:44 PM (#803794)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Tiger

I don't do these gigs yet, but always figured my best finale would be "We'll Meet Again"

The right era, the right feeling, they all know it.

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16 Oct 02 - 01:50 AM (#804156)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Genie

Yeah, Tiger, that's one of the parting songs that goes over well with the WWII generation.

BTW, folks, if any of you think that a slow, "sad" song like "Till We Meet Again" ("Smile the while you bid me sad adieu...") is a downer for these folks, you should have been at the retirement home sing-along I did Monday afternoon. We closed with that song, and not only did nearly everyone sing along with it, but as I was packing up my guitar and gear after the session ended, the residents broke spontaneously into song -- with at least 5 or six of them happily crooning that song as they made their way out to the hall or to the elevator!

Singing sad, soulful songs isn't necessarily a downer. (Any blues player knows that.)

Genie

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16 Oct 02 - 02:07 AM (#804165)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: musicmick

I have had great success with a medley of "Let the Rest of the World Go By", "Smile the While" and "Now is the Hour". They segue nicely.
Since 9/11, I've had lots of reqests for "God Bless America". I tried closing with it but it made for an awkward finale so I, now, sing it in the next to last spot, then I end with the medley. That has proven to be a good solution.

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16 Oct 02 - 02:51 AM (#804178)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,rich

you are my sunshine. they love ot & usually try singing along

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16 Oct 02 - 05:05 AM (#804219)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Lanfranc

Certainly not Bert Jansch's "Needle of Death", although I once had a request for it while doing Hospital Radio some years back!

A medley of spirituals ("Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", "Steal Away" and "I Bid You Goodnight") has often served me well.

Alan

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16 Oct 02 - 08:40 AM (#804299)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,IanN

Meet on the ledge?

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16 Oct 02 - 11:14 AM (#804422)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Genie

I'm mpre likely to OPEN with You Are My Sunshine and CLOSE with God Bless America. Seems to work well with most of my folks. Guess it depends on the group.

FWIW, though, I don't think you have to do a "parting" song to end. Sometimes I close with "Those Were The Days" or "La Bamba" or something else that's energizing. ("La Bamba" makes a great closer at Cinco de Mayo time or for a party.)

Genie

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16 Oct 02 - 12:05 PM (#804515)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: wilco

Ones that I occasionally get requests to close with are: "Precious Memories," "When They Ring those Golden Bells," "Sailing Down the River of Yout Memory," " This Old House," and "Where We'll Never Grow Old". With exception to old House, most of the audience can sing along, since they know the lyrics. Thanks for your suggestions.

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16 Oct 02 - 07:16 PM (#804891)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Snuffy

"With exception to old House, most of the audience can sing along, since they know the lyrics. Thanks for your suggestions."

With exception to old House, I've never even heard of any of them. But then I'm in England, and I don't think God Bless America would go down all that well here either.

"Show me the way to go home", or "Now is the hour", or "We'll meet again" or a Barn Dance/Veleta medley starting and ending with "Daisy Daisy" would be more the mark over here.

WassaiL! V

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16 Oct 02 - 07:21 PM (#804894)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Bill

Try "Get up and Go" by Pete Seager
You can check out in Folk Roots.
Bill

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16 Oct 02 - 10:30 PM (#805013)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Genie

Snuffy, I can well imagine that UK folks would not want to hear "God Bless America" -- any more than us Yanks would want "Rule, Brittania!" *G*

As for "Daisy" ("Bicycle Built For Two" or "Daisy Bell"), I find that it has become rapidly less popular over the past 10 years of my doing this music pretty much full time. That's not surprising. "Daisy Bell" is from the 1890s -- the era of the PARENTS of most of the seniors I entertain. Songs from that era are well known to folks in their 80s and 90s, but they are not the major songs they associate with their teenage and young adult years.

For folks with severe memory impairment, of course, these really old songs do go over very well. But lots of folks in "nursing homes" are there for physical reasons, and some have little or no cognitive impairment.

Today I was doing a sing-along with an Alzheimer's group I sing for regularly. In addition to the usual simple/old/very familiar sing-alongs, I did "Please Release Me" (the favorite song of one resident), "The Rainbow Connection," and "Tennessee Waltz" (written in 1951). Not only did "The Rainbow Connection" draw spontaneous, enthusiastic approbation from one of the gentlemen -- more vocal approval than any other song -- but several residents sang along with the other two songs, as well as clapping for them. These songs drew much more participation and glee than did the usual sing-alongs like "You Are My Sunshine," "I've Been Working On The Railroad," "Red River Valley," etc.

I can't stress too much how important it is not to LIMIT the playlist for nursing homes to songs written or popular before 1930 or 1940.

That said, let me add that a very popular closing song in the US --especially for Veterans' Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Flag Day -- is "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic."

Genie

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17 Oct 02 - 09:02 AM (#805273)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Snuffy

Over here Old Time dances (Barn Dance, Veleta, St Bernards, etc) were still common in villages until well into the 60s. They tended to use medleys of popular songs of the previous 100 years. The band would just play the tunes, but people would sing the choruses while dancing.

Some of these medleys became almost compulsory. For example, if I start off with a chorus of "Daisy, Daisy" everybody over 50 knows that the next tune in the medley will be "She was a sweet little dickie bird"

WassaiL! V

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17 Oct 02 - 09:23 PM (#805737)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Bugsy

"We May, or May Never"(All Meet Here Again)

Cheers



Bugsy

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04 Sep 08 - 07:18 PM (#2431375)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Bonnie

Our residents are fairly religious and are inclined to ask for "Till we meet." They don't see it as sad, but a comfort and affirmation of their hope to see each other again in heaven. These people are dealing with the reality of knowing their turn may be up very soon and they like to rest in their faith every chance they get.

Some songs bring smiles because a resident can remember her mother or father singing this particular song.

Otherwise, they enjoy all types of music they are familiar with, especially from their teen years. They also enjoy hearing songs they heard as a child, rounds and nursery rhyme songs. It brings back such special memories for them.

Iowa, America

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05 Sep 08 - 10:30 AM (#2431829)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Mooh

For the last year or so my fiddle/guitar duo has done a slow swingy version of What A Wonderful World. We like it and so do the residents.

Peace, Mooh.

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05 Sep 08 - 01:53 PM (#2432025)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: frogprince

"Fixin to Die Rag" probably wouldn't be the best idea...

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05 Sep 08 - 02:41 PM (#2432079)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T

I've only done a dozen or so gigs at Nursing homes and Hospices, but, given my very unusual sense of humour, I have finished with one of the funniest songs I know.

It is "Hypochondria" by my good friend Clive Lever.

The audiences have been rolling on the floor laughing, and completely forgetting that they, in fact, have many of the ailments mentioned in the song.

It has NEVER failed. (and I DO get invited back, though one Matron commented that they had to get in extra supplies of oxygen).

Don T.

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05 Sep 08 - 02:45 PM (#2432083)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Rabbi-Sol

I like to close with Harry Chapin's "All My Life's A Circle" and get everybody singing along on it. It works 95% of the time.

SOL

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05 Sep 08 - 03:42 PM (#2432135)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,highlandman at work

One I've had good success with for various ages is "Dream A Little Dream Of Me." Probably because it has had multiple incarnations as a hit during the youthful years of several generations.
Otherwise, "I'll Be Seeing You" seems to be a favorite of the rapidly dwindling WWII generation, and "Down By The Old Mill Stream" is the big winner for the really older folks.
-Glenn

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05 Sep 08 - 04:16 PM (#2432165)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Steve Gardham

Keep right on to the end of the road
Alternatively....absolutlely anything...they'll forget what happened in a few seconds anyway.

I'll get me coat!

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09 Aug 10 - 11:33 PM (#2961688)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Guest

I occasionally get requests for "home on the range", tends to be a crowd-pleaser

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10 Aug 10 - 04:46 AM (#2961797)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Rob Naylor

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."

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10 Aug 10 - 05:21 AM (#2961813)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Grim Reaper

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

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10 Aug 10 - 08:09 AM (#2961917)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,HughM

Maggie
The Rowan Tree

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10 Aug 10 - 11:52 AM (#2962078)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: EBarnacle

When You and I were young, Maggie

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19 Sep 14 - 09:14 AM (#3661813)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST

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

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19 Sep 14 - 09:42 AM (#3661825)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Rob Naylor

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!

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19 Sep 14 - 11:03 AM (#3661841)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,PeterC

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!

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19 Sep 14 - 12:40 PM (#3661887)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Musket

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.

🎸🎸🎸🎷🎷🎷

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19 Sep 14 - 12:52 PM (#3661895)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Larry The Radio Guy

Vaya Con Dios

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19 Sep 14 - 01:01 PM (#3661899)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Rahere

Wait till punk comes around...

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19 Sep 14 - 01:24 PM (#3661911)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: wysiwyg

May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You.

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

~S~

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19 Sep 14 - 06:23 PM (#3662008)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST

"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."

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19 Sep 14 - 06:32 PM (#3662010)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,mauvepink

Forever Young

mp

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20 Sep 14 - 03:23 AM (#3662078)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: nager

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.

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20 Sep 14 - 06:03 AM (#3662103)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: bubblyrat

"Death Is Not The End "

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20 Sep 14 - 09:56 PM (#3662308)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Elmore

Rolling Home.

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20 Sep 14 - 11:28 PM (#3662321)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Big Al Whittle

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!

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21 Sep 14 - 01:43 AM (#3662340)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Denis McKay

The Remember Song. Or Get up and Go.

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

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21 Sep 14 - 01:55 AM (#3662342)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Joe Offer

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-

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21 Sep 14 - 08:06 AM (#3662388)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Desi C

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!

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21 Sep 14 - 10:21 AM (#3662405)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,gillymor

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.

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22 Sep 14 - 04:05 AM (#3662526)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Tattie Bogle

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

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22 Sep 14 - 06:16 AM (#3662562)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Musket

"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.....

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22 Sep 14 - 08:00 PM (#3662816)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Tattie Bogle

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

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13 Jan 17 - 02:53 PM (#3832390)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: oldhippie

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

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13 Jan 17 - 05:21 PM (#3832427)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Tattie Bogle

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!)

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13 Jan 17 - 08:08 PM (#3832447)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST

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

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17 Mar 17 - 07:40 PM (#3845438)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Merritt

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.

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18 Mar 17 - 07:22 AM (#3845492)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST

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

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18 Mar 17 - 09:26 AM (#3845505)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: eftifino

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

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

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18 Mar 17 - 01:46 PM (#3845536)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,DrWord

"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

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18 Mar 17 - 02:09 PM (#3845537)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST

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 !

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18 Mar 17 - 02:10 PM (#3845538)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,DTM

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

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20 Mar 17 - 02:59 PM (#3845858)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Helen

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

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20 Mar 17 - 04:37 PM (#3845867)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Eddie1

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

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21 Mar 17 - 01:13 AM (#3845914)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Helen

Here it is:


Old Folkies' Home/Retirement Village

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

Helen

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21 Mar 17 - 10:32 PM (#3846080)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: McGrath of Harlow

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.

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21 Apr 17 - 08:58 PM (#3851756)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST

We'll Meet Again

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21 Apr 17 - 10:17 PM (#3851763)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Jackaroodave

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.

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19 Sep 17 - 01:30 PM (#3877711)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Russ, "Singalong"

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!

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22 Sep 17 - 01:31 AM (#3878074)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Ron Davies

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.

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22 Sep 17 - 08:05 PM (#3878256)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Larry The Radio Guy

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

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24 Sep 17 - 06:35 AM (#3878469)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,Peter Cripps

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

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24 Sep 17 - 09:14 PM (#3878568)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Tattie Bogle

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"!

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24 Sep 17 - 09:48 PM (#3878569)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,pauperback

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.

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25 Sep 17 - 05:07 PM (#3878700)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST,pauperback

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

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25 Sep 17 - 06:03 PM (#3878708)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: GUEST

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.

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25 Sep 17 - 06:10 PM (#3878711)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Johnny J

Oops, last post was mine.

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27 Sep 17 - 01:19 PM (#3878993)
Subject: RE: Best Closing Song for Nursing Home Gigs
From: Tattie Bogle

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!

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