ADD: Old and Only in the Way

Subject: Old and Only in the Way
From:
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 11:59 AM

has anyone heard of the the song "Old and Only in the Way"--I believe it was written by John Lair (Songs from Renfro Valley), sung by Roy Davidson and Claude Sweet--any information about where I might find a copy would be appreciated...thanks!

Subject: RE: Help: Old and Only in the Way
From: GUEST,Pete Peterson
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 12:31 PM

If this is the same as Charlie Poole's Old and Gray and Only in the Way, I can give you the lyrics; if not. . sorry!

Subject: RE: Help: Old and Only in the Way
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 01:01 PM

Pete- You don't have to bother. It's in the DT (search [Only in the Way]

Subject: RE: Help: Old and Only in the Way
From: GUEST,GENE
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 01:48 PM

And there is a version by The Stanley Brothers at:

COWPIE LYRICS SITE...

http://www.roughstock.com/cowpie/cowpie-songs/s/stanley_brothers/old_and_in_the_way.crd

Subject: RE: Help: Old and Only in the Way
From:
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 07:02 PM

thanks for trying... i'm surprised there are so many songs with the same title...i am trying to find a recording of this song for my in-laws... the lyrics they sent goes as follows:

We see folks every day whose hair is turning grey
Whose weary steps are feeble now and slow
Beneath the load of care almost too much to bear
They travel on the way we all must go
It is'nt much they need, a kindly thought or deed
Will fill their hearts with happiness and pride
...
Don't tire of them because they're old and grey
And remember while you're young the time for you will come
When you'll be old and only in the way.

i've already determined it's not the charlie poole version -- any more leads would be appreciated...

Subject: RE: Help: Old and Only in the Way
From: Stewie
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 08:23 PM

Sorry, I can't help with a version containing the words quoted, but I am puzzled by the DT's attribution of its 'Old and In the Way' as being Charlie Poole's version. The stanzas that concur with Poole's depart from his actual words and there are additional stanzas. The lyrics as Poole recorded it may be found here:

Charlie Poole's version

The original 1880 sheet music (words P.J. Downey and music by L.T. Billings) may be found at the Levy site:

Levy

Fiddlin' John Carson recorded the song twice, in 1924 and 1927. Like Poole, he takes bits of the original and adds other bits. I can post the Carson lyrics if anyone is interested. Other oldtimey recordings were made by Ted Chestnut, Mac and Bob, The Kentucky Girls, The Texas Fiddlin' Wampus Cat and His Kitten (W.B. Chenoweth) and Arkansas Woodchopper.

Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Pete Rowan et alia had a group called 'Old and In the Way' that featured a reworking of the song by Grisman, but it bears little relationship to what is requested here.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Help: Old and Only in the Way
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 08:32 PM

Other artists versions--
??Moore, Oliver - Old and only in the way
??Arkansas Woodchopper - Old and only in the way
XXStanley Brothers - Old and in the way
XXPoole, Charlie - Old and only in the way

Subject: RE: Help: Old and Only in the Way
From: Stewie
Date: 18 Sep 02 - 08:50 PM

You can scratch the Stanley Bros one from the list of possibles. I dug into the vinyl collection and found it. It is a sentimental narration with chorus - quite over the top - that bears little relationship to the song in question. The Stanley Brothers 'Folk Concert from the Heart of America' Starday LP SK834 (1976).

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Help: Old and Only in the Way
From:
Date: 19 Sep 02 - 11:07 AM

wow...i can't believe the wealth of information out there about obscure, mostly forgotten 'old tymey' songs and artists... AND that there's a group of people keeping their talents and memories alive... i believe my father-in-law has an old recording of the song/album i'm looking for--maybe the best bet is to take that to someone who can clean it up and re-record it for him... thanks for all your help!

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD AND ONLY IN THE WAY (Downey, Billings
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 07:10 PM

Found at the Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music:

OLD AND ONLY IN THE WAY
Words, P. J. Downey. Music, L. T. Billings.
New York: T. B. Harms & Co., 1880.

1. As we walk through the street, how often we meet
Some poor old man whose life is naught but woe;
With age his form is bent, in his pocket not a cent,
And for shelter they do not know where to go.
With relations by the score, who keep them from the door,
And meeting on the street they pass them by;
If you ask them why it's done, they will answer you and say:
"We're poor, we're old, and only in the way!"

CHORUS: So let us cheer them on. They won't be with us long.
Don't let us sneer because they're old and gray;
And remember while we're young, the days to us may come
When we'll be old and only in the way.

2. There was a time I hear, when the young were not so queer,
But since that time, there's come an awful change:
Young men in health and might, their old parents they will strike,
And it happens every day; it's nothing strange.
Take this poor wreck of toil: his children him do spurn,
For death, I'm sure, he oftentimes does pray.
Himself and faithful wife, after toiling all their life,
When old, they find that they are in the way. CHORUS.

3. My little song, I'm sure, is for rich as well as poor,
For take a rich man when he's growing old:
His friends will shake his hand, his relations round him stand.
Awaiting him to die, they want his gold.
Then let us from this hour, do all that's in our power
To make the road for old folks light and gay;
And if they trouble on us cast, why let this be our last
To say: that they are old, and in the way. CHORUS.

* * *

OLD AND IN THE WAY was recorded by
Fiddlin' John Carson in 1924 and again in 1927.
John Carson and Moonshine Kate in 1934.

OLD AND ONLY IN THE WAY was recorded by:
Charlie Poole's North Carolina Ramblers in 1928
Kentucky Girls in 1928
Oliver Moore in 1928
Arkansas Woodchopper in 1930
West Virginia Railsplitters in 1930

This information from www.honkingduck.com

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD AND IN THE WAY (Fiddlin' John Carson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Nov 07 - 07:13 PM

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.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old and Only in the Way
From: GUEST,daddypaddy2att.net
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 11:17 PM

My recollection of the verses that my Dad sang to me many years ago, I think was a Barbershop version, thet went:

While walking down the street, an old friend I did meet, whose head was bending low,
When asked the reason why, he gave me this reply,
"For I'm old and only in the way ".

So let us cheer him up, boys,for he won't be with us long,
remember when you're young, the time to you will come,
xxxxxxxxxxx   xxxxxx    xxxxx   xxxxxxx
when you're old and only in the way.


Great song for harmonizing !!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old and Only in the Way
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Sep 16 - 01:59 PM

There's a great version on Kenny Hall and the Sweets Mill String Band first LP from the 70s

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old and Only in the Way
From: Rumncoke
Date: 13 Sep 16 - 07:55 PM

I heard this song for the first time at Swanage folk festival last weekend - at least 'old and grey and only in the way'- just at the moment I'm listening to Status Quo - they aren't bad, still - though forgetting the words from time to time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old and Only in the Way
From: GUEST,Jim Bainbridge
Date: 10 Feb 23 - 12:45 PM

Hazel Dickens had another excellent version!

Subject: RE: ADD: Old and Only in the Way
From: GUEST,Dick Miles
Date: 11 Feb 23 - 11:13 AM

Charlie Poole,surely?

Subject: RE: ADD: Old and Only in the Way
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Feb 23 - 11:37 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr8c1UNVZcM Charlie Poole who also wrote goodbye booze, ironically it was his downfall along with hamish imlach who also succumbed and recorded the song goodbye booze

Subject: RE: ADD: Old and Only in the Way
From: GUEST,guest Dick Miles
Date: 11 Feb 23 - 11:41 AM

charlie poole who also wrote goodbye booze ironically it was his downfall along with hamish imlach who sang it and recorded it decades later

Subject: RE: ADD: Old and Only in the Way
From: GUEST,Dick Miles
Date: 11 Feb 23 - 11:53 AM

Sorry Old and Only in the Way, not written by Charlie Poole