I transcribed these lyrics from the sound file at www.honkingduck.com

OLD AND IN THE WAY
As sung by Fiddlin' John Carson, 1924

1. As you walk down the street, how often do you meet
Some poor old man who's growing old?
His agèd form is bent, in his pockets not a cent,
And for shelter he knows not where to go.
See that poor old wreck of toil: his children him do shun.
To die I know he's often prayed,
For himself and dear old wife, after toiling all their life,
Find they're only old and in the way.

CHORUS: Oh, let us cheer them on, for they can't be with us long.
Don't stare at them because they're old and gray.
Just remember now you're young, but to you the time will come
When you'll only be old and in the way.

2. Now my little song, I'm sure, fits the rich as well as the poor,
For a rich man becomes [sic] to growing old.
His friends will stand around, and his children take his hand.
Waiting for him to die, they want to get his gold.
All through life he has enjoyed ev'rything that wealth could buy,
But gold a life will never, never save.
After all, he's like the poor: when his journey's nearly over,
Find he's only old and in the way. CHORUS.

Only be old and in the way.