Songs about retirement / for a retirement party

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: patriot1314
Date: 01 Jun 05 - 03:59 AM

My own favourite is "BLUE DENIM DAYS" by Ian Bruce

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: GUEST,I have a retirement song that I wrote
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 10:59 AM

It's called "Goodbye My Friend" -- to hear the music and lyrics go to www.trunorthmusic.com and click on "Goodbye My Friend."

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: GUEST,A great retirement song!
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 11:37 AM

It's beautiful & FREE! Goto www.touchedbyatune.com and click on "Goodbye My Friend"

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: GUEST,J C
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 04:07 AM

Two songs by MacColl if you can get his 'Songs of Ewan MacColl' book
THE RAMBLER FROM CLARE - written for 'The Irishmen' film circa 1964
LAMENT FOR THE DEATH OF A NOBODY (Festival of Fools 1968)

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 04:12 AM

"DEATH WALKS BEHIND YOU" by Atomic Rooster.

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: KenBrock
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 02:04 PM

"ONE MORE MINUTE" by Weird Al Yankovic

Subject: Lyr Add: EASY STREET
From: sinpelo
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 04:50 AM

The style is anything but folk, you'll have to figure out your own tune and it's probably the367th song called Easy Street but it IS about retirement (at least it's short and over with fairly quickly....... the song, that is. Not retirement.)

Easy Street

I'm putting my worries in storage
I'm turning down the heat
I'm directing my feet
To Easy Street

I'm smoothing over my raw edges
My disposition is sweet
I'm directing my feet
To Easy Street

There's things I always wanted to do
But never had time enough
Now I've time on my hands
To at least try a few
If only I still had the puff

I'm handing over the whole shaboodle
It's time I took a back seat
I'm directing my feet
To Easy Street

instrumental period

I've lived life in the Fast Lane
It's time I started to slow
Now I get hemorrhoids
And varricose veins
Oh Sweet Bird of Youth
Where the f**k did you go?

I'm handing over the whole shaboodle
It's time I took a back seat
I'm directing my feet
To Easy Street

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 04:57 PM

Five for Fighting - 100 YEARS

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 05:07 PM

Gonna buy myself a motorhome by Roy Bookbinder. Scroll down and listen to a sample.

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: GUEST,susie
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 09:38 AM

a very warm and uplifting retirement song is "Goodbye My Friend" (c)2006 by Susie Krauter -- you can find it here: www.touchedbyatune.com Hope it will encourage the hearts.

Subject: Lyr Add: WALKIN' IN THE SUNSHINE (Roger Miller)
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 09:49 AM

As a kid or an old fart, I always found Roger Miller's "Walkin' In The Sunshine" to be a great song for lifting spirits. I get to retire in 4 more years and I'm certainly looking forward to walking in the sunshine when I do.


WALKIN' IN THE SUNSHINE
by Roger Miller

Walking In The Sunshine, sing a little sunshine song,
Put a smile upon your face as if there's nothing wrong.
Think about a good time had a long time ago,
Think about forgetting about your worries and your woes,
Walking In The Sunshine, sing a little sunshine song.

La la la la la dee oh, Whether the weather be rain or snow,
Pretending can make it real,
A snowy pasture, a green and grassy field.

Subject: Lyr Add: SHADY ACRES (Janis Ian)
From: bobad
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 11:40 AM

Not exactly a retirement song rather a wry commentary on the retirement industry and on our society's attitude towards the aged, written by Janis Ian at the tender age of seventeen. She attempted to sing it on "The Joey Bishop Show" on live television and the censors tried to shut her down while on the air, but Bishop refused to let them stop her, and she was able to finish the song.

SHADY ACRES

So you've grown tired of your parents always hanging around
Now they spoil your children and having grandparents is out
Yes, and they raised you well but you wish to hell
That they'd go away so you wouldn't have to pay for their food,
Forget all the years when they paid for you.

Chorus
Send your mother to Shady Acres, send your father to Shady Acres,
We'll take good care of them, you won't be aware of them,
Send them to Shady Acres.

Well if one of them's dead, don't worry your head, 'cause we have a matchmaker
They can sit down and kvetch on the rest home steps while watching Green Acres
Yes, if you don't want to visit, well there's no requisite
We have foster sons and daughters to help all our boarders to stop feeling blue
Keep the checks coming and we won't bother you.

Chorus

Yes, our home's so peaceful, they die while they're sleeping, yes, right in their beds
Now there's no need for worry, we have our own mortuary and a beautiful cemetery
Yes, we are good people, we care for the feeble
We've devoted our lives to the husbands and wives
Who don't want their fathers around to be bothers
So send 'em, we're respectable, and tax deductible.

Final Chorus
Send your mother to Shady Acres, send your father to Shady Acres,
We'll take good care of them because we love them,
Send them to Shady Acres.

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: Northerner
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 01:03 PM

Marie Little does one about being old. Can't remember what it's called though.

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 01:13 PM

Well I'm surprised nobody has mentioned my own personal favourite, which I used to sing a lot back in my 'bitter and twisted' days.
A song performed by Donovan called GOLDWATCH BLUES with this wonderfully evocative chorus,

Here's your gold watch and the shackles for your chains
And your piece of paper, to say you left here sane
And if you've a son who wants a good career
Just get him to sign on the dotted line and work for 20 years


Giok

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: GUEST,Joe_F
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 10:36 PM

SAILOR'S REST, by Stan Rogers. IN THE SIDINGS, by Cyril Tawney.

--- Joe Fineman    [e-mail]

||: Sincerity is so cheap, it's a wonder anyone bothers to be a hypocrite. :||

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 07:37 PM

It seems Harvey Andrews' funniest retirement song hasn't been mentioned: LEAVING HOME (the parents, not the kids ...)

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: Genie
Date: 26 Apr 06 - 11:37 PM

I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out what the original question or request was, because the posts are not all in sequence, but here are a couple suggestions of songs for retirees or just for us geezers. ;)

WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THIS LAND
KISSES SWEETER THAN WINE
WHEN YOU AND I WERE YOUNG, MAGGIE
IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR
THE DUTCHMAN
MAIDS WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG NEVER WED AN OLD MAN - (just kidding!) ;)
I'M GLAD I'M NOT YOUNG ANYMORE (from "Gigi")


Of course, one could always anticipate a lovely retirement with Hoagy Carmichael's
UP A LAZY RIVER

Subject: Lyr Add: YOUNG AT HEART (from Frank Sinatra)
From: GUEST,browsingGUEST
Date: 06 May 06 - 07:00 AM

how about...
Young at Heart by Frank Sinatra

Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you
If you're young at heart
For it's hard, you will find, to be narrow of mind
If you're young at heart

You can go to extremes with impossible schemes
You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams
And life gets more exciting with each passing day
And love is either in your heart or on its way

Don't you know that it's worth every treasure on earth
To be young at heart
For as rich as you are it's much better by far
To be young at heart

And if you should survive to 105
Look at all you'll derive out of being alive
Then here is the best part
You've had a head start
If you are among the very young at heart

And if you should survive to 105
Look at all you'll derive out of being alive
Then here is the best part
You've had a head start
If you are among the very young at heart

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 06 May 06 - 10:28 PM

The Ol' Grey Mare

She S&*((T ...on the wiffle-tree.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: Bert
Date: 07 May 06 - 02:16 AM

Then there's that parody of Last Thing On My Mind By Sue Trainer "Can't Remember THE LAST THING ON MY MIND"

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 01:13 AM

Here's a retirement song that is truly inspiring! Really a MUST if you love the person who's retiring! Check this out:

http://www.trunorthmusic.com/Lyrics/GoodbyeMyFriendSONG.html

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 09:41 PM

Isnt it time to Retyre (Retry) these songs?

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: stallion
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 06:03 AM

PROSPECT, PROVIDENCE, PERSEVERANCE Kieth Marsden

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: GUEST,Retired in San Diego
Date: 19 Jan 07 - 01:07 AM

I just retired today and my personal playlist includes:
SCHOOL'S OUT (for Summer) By Alice Cooper
BANG ON THE DRUM ALL DAY by Todd Rundgren
TIME HAS COME TODAY by the Chambers Brothers
YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT by the Rolling Stones
(You Gotta) FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT (to Party) by the Beastie Boys

Enjoy!

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: Jim Lad
Date: 19 Jan 07 - 03:09 AM

THE 200-YEAR-OLD ALCOHOLIC. Makem & Clancy Collection.

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: Amos
Date: 19 Jan 07 - 08:48 AM

TOO OLD TO WORK (and Too Young to Die) comes to mind.

A

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: Black Hawk
Date: 19 Jan 07 - 09:38 AM

ONEY sung by Johnny Cash

One I've been meaning to learn for years - lots of 'truth' for many manual workers!

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: GUEST,shan in miami
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 07:15 AM

I love using "THOSE WERE THE DAYS" either as is or making a parody.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LAST THING ON MY MIND (parody)
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 09:53 AM

THE LAST THING ON MY MIND

There's no lesson I'm capable of learning,
'Cos my mind's on the blink
I always hope that my memory's returning,
But I'm too old, I think.
When I go to the kitchen I look round in fear,
Am I here to get coffee or beer?
I look around for clues but there's nothing I can find,
I'm searching for the last thing on my mind.

As I drive in my car in the morning,
Where to go? I just don't know.
A suspicion is gradually forming,
That my mind's working slow.
Was I going to the station, or was it the bank?
Oh, why has the last hour gone blank?
I try to remember, but it's hopeless, I find.
I can't recall the last thing on my mind.

I had reasons a-plenty for going,
What they were I just can't say.
Now my panic is rapidly growing,
I've been in Tesco's all day.
Did I come to buy sugar, is it cabbage I need?
Was it Oxos or budgerigar seed?
I did make out a list, but I've left it behind.
Whatever was the last thing on my mind?

I know the capital of Texas is Austin,
I know Morocco's is Rabat,
I can name Southampton's winning FA cup team,
Just how sad is that?
But don't ask me to tell you what I did yesterday,
For my memory has drawn down the blind,
I used to get upset, now I'm becoming resigned
To searching for the last thing on my mind.


I

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 02:30 PM

FRED JONES PART II by Ben Folds

Best retirement song ever, very sad!

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: ONEY (Johnny Cash)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 04:34 PM

ONEY
Words and music by Jerry Chesnut
As recorded by Johnny Cash on "Any Old Wind That Blows" (1973)

(SPOKEN:) I dedicate this song to the workin' man--for ev'ry man that puts in eight or ten hard hours a day of work and toil and sweat, 's always got somebody lookin' down his neck, tryin' to get more out of 'im than he really ought to have to put in.

CAPO: 1st Fret/KEY: G#/PLAY: G
[G] After twenty-nine long years of workin' in this shop with Oney standin' o-[A7] ver me,
To-[D7]day when that old whistle blows, I'll check in all my gear and I'll re-[G] tire.
The superintendent just dropped by and said they'd planned my little get to-[A7] gether,
Then [D7] he said I'd never made it if old Oney hadn't 'a' held me to the [G] fire.

I've seen him in my dreams at night 'n' woke up in the mornin' feelin' tired,
And old Oney don't remember when I came here how he tried to get me fired.
With his folded hands behind him, every mornin' Oney waited at the gate,
Where he'd rant and rave like I committed murder clockin' in five minutes late.

CHANGE TO A:
[A] But today they'll gather 'round me like I've seen 'em do when any man [B7] retires,
Then [E7] old Oney's gonna tell me from now on I'm free to do what I [A] desire.
He'll present me with that little old gold watch they give a man at times [B7] like this.
But [E7] there's one thing he's not countin' on: today's the day I give old Oney [A] his.

CHANGE TO C:
[C] I've been workin', buildin' muscles; Oney's just been standin' 'round a-get-[D7] tin' soft.
And [G7] today about four-thirty I'll make up for every good night's sleep [C] I've lost.
When I'm gone I'll be remembered as the workin' man that put his point [D7] across
With [G7] a right hand full of knuckles, 'cause today I show old Oney who's the [C] boss.

(SPOKEN:) Hmmmm! What time is it? Four-thirty! Hey, Oney! Oney! Ha ha ha ha!

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: Trevor
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 08:52 AM

To give the lie to Billy Connolly's comment that folk singers all sing about dead sailors, there's a great Steve Tilston song called 'Salty Dog', about a fisherman who's about to retire

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: squeezeboxhp
Date: 18 Jun 07 - 04:00 PM

the best i heard was Roy Bailey singing (i told the dean )to the tune of i did it my way and if anyone has the words or if he has recorded it please let me know

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: GUEST,rockmachine2112
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 12:29 AM

it's probably over and done with by now but how about:

FOREVER YOUNG - Rod Stewart

or

I DON'T NEED YOUR ROCKIN' CHAIR - George Jones

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 09:29 AM

Depending where the [erson is retiring from....

After a lifetime working in cryogenics - 'Freeze a Jolly Good Fellow'.

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: topical tom
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 11:52 AM

Except for the first two lines "MY WAY" by Frank Sinatra could be appropriate.

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: Amos
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 02:47 PM

I just wrote one for my BBW's sister's retirement, which I can send out on request, but it is purely personalized.

Then there's "TOO OLD TO WORK" from the labor union movement. And of course, "TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT" by Johnny Paycheck.


A

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: Barbara
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 04:47 PM

Peter Krug's "GERITOL GYPSY" (drive an RV 10 yards long, rollin' on down the interstate, just singing a highway song..)
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: GUEST,GQ
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 05:09 PM

All of these song are coming up on google as not found. I have a great friend that just retired but I cannot find any good songs for him. I am making a slide show!
Please HELP!

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: GUEST,Manny
Date: 29 May 09 - 01:45 AM

TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT-Johnny Paycheck

9 TO 5 - Dolly Parton

HIT THE ROAD, JACK - Ray Charles

WORKING FOR A LIVING - Huey Lewis

THANKS FOR THE MEMORY - Bob Hope

FREE AT LAST - Antony and the Johnsons.

Subject: RE: Searching For Retirement Songs
From: GUEST,Guest Margi
Date: 15 Aug 09 - 08:25 PM

Here's my favorite list:
I'M FREE - Rolling Stones
SCHOOL'S OUT - Alice Cooper
TIME HAS COME TODAY - Chambers Brothers
(You Gotta) FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT (to Party) - Beastie Boys
I DON'T WANT TO WORK - Todd Rundgren
BLUE SKIES - Sinatra (or anyone else)
BLACKBIRD - Beatles
WATCHING THE WHEELS - John Lennon
COME FLY WITH ME - Sinatra
A NEW DAY FOR YOU - Basia
I GOT YOU (I FEEL GOOD) - James Brown