Songs for 50th Birthday

Subject: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: GUEST,Scanner
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 07:53 PM

My friend will reach the half-century mark in a few weeks. Usually I send her a tape or CD of songs that she might like. However, this time there will be a surprise party. I would like to have each member at the party sing her an appropriate song marking the occasion.
Please suggest some material for us to use; parodies & other funny stuff is most welcome, as well as normal songs.
Thanx,Fay

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: black walnut
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 08:39 PM

My favourite birthday song, which was sung at my recent 50th birthday party by its composer, Eve Goldberg, is "Let's Throw a Party for Ourselves (the birthday song)". Eve wrote it for our mutual friend Susan, and recorded it on her CD 'Ever Brightening Day'.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 04:02 AM

Are you familiar with John McCutcheon's "Cut the Cake"? (Actually, I see he didn't write it, but I think he's prolly the only one who's recorded it.) A nice alternative to "Happy Birthday to You".

Lyrics are here; you might be able to hear it here (I couldn't, but I have a Mac & it doesn't like my incarnation of RealPlayer).

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: GUEST,Dean
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 04:51 AM

If she has a sense of humour Bill Carlyle's "To Old To Cut The Mustard"
is great. If you don't know it check The Record Lady. The words are probably in the DT> If not try Cowpie.

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: GUEST,Dean
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 05:00 AM

I couldn't find the words in DT so I will post them here. The song can be heard on page A12 of The Record Lady done by The Carliles.

TOO OLD TO CUT THE MUSTARD
Words and music by Bill Carlisle

[D] When I was young, I had an [A7] automobile
I'd scoot myself right [D] under that wheel
I had to fight the gals off [A7] with a stick
But now they say, [P] ..."Oh, he makes me sick."

Refrain:
He's [D] Too old, [G] too old
He's too [D] old to cut the mustard any-[A7] more [P] ...
He's a-gettin' [D] too old, he's done got [G] too old
He's [D] too old to cut the mus-[A7] tard any-[D] more.

When I was young I had a lot of pep
I could get around, I didn't need no help
But since I'm old and a-gettin' gray
The people all look at me and say.

Refrain:

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: GUEST,Dave Roberts, Salt Town Poets
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 05:27 AM

Well here's our favourite 50th birthday song, written by His Worship & The Pig. Not really suitable for a lady, unfortunately, but very funny. The tune, incidentally, is a hybrid: the verses are sung to the tune of 'In My Liverpool Home' and the chorus to the tune of 'A Pub With No Beer'.

You're Only As Old
(J Parton/D Boulton)

Now you're knocking fifty I'll bet you a quid
That your bodily functions don't work like they did
And to see yourself naked is a little distressing
Though your skin fits OK, it looks like it needs pressing.

Chorus:
So don't think that fifty's the end of the line,
That you've run out of track, and you've run out of time;
'Cos as long as you've got both your ardour and zeal,
You're only as old as the woman you feel.

Round about fifty you might be concerned
At the largish amount of your candle you've burned;
But the size of your candle don't matter a bit,
What's important is how long it burns once it's lit.

Chorus

And shortly you'll start growing hair once again,
In your armholes, and earholes, and holes I won't name;
But no-one's explained it, and I've never read
Why it grows down your nostrils, but not on your head.

Chorus

WHen you were just twenty-one all your girlfriends,
Used to say that you'd go like a Merceded-Benz;
Now they all say that your engine is slowing,
They start you by hand, then jump on once you're going.

Chorus

STOP PRESS!

I've just remembered that HW&TP's CD 'Look Back In Hanley' contains the following version just for the ladies. I'm a bit hazy on some of the words in the first verse.Can anyone help?

You've got lotions and potions and cream, you've got grease (?)
To cover each wrinkle and crinkly piece,
They fill all your closets(?) from the front to the back,
You've got more oil reserves than the whole of Iraq.

Chorus:
So don't think that fifty's the end of the line,
That you've run out of track and you've run out of time;
'Cos I've said it before,and I'll say it again,
It's not the men in your life, it's the life in your men.

Now you must have had implants, the odd tuck or two,
To keep that voluptuous shape that you do;
But too many facelifts, and just as you feared,
You'll end up with a curly triangular beard.

Chorus

Now some ladies at fifty, they may go so far
As to give up the habit or wearing a bra;
It don't add to your style, it don't add to your grace,
But it pulls all the wrinkles from out of your face.

Chorus

DR.

PS: HW&TP's website is worth a look. Its at

www.hisworshipandthepig.co.uk

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: Ian
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 05:36 AM

Here is a copy of the version sung by Pearl at Towersey in celibration of her 50th. Ps can anyone tell me more about the writers?

You're Only As Old
Dave Boulton & Jeff Parton

Now you're looking 50 I'll bet you a quid
That you're bodily functions don't work like they did
And to see yourself naked it's a little distressing
For your skin fits okay but looks as if it needs pressing

So don't think that 50's the end of the line
Cos you've run out of track and you've run out of time
Cos as long as you've got both your ardour and zeal
You're only as old as the woman you feel

Well round about 50 you might be concerned
At the largest amount of the candle you burn
But the size of your candle don't matter a bit
What's important is how long its burns once it's lit

And shortly you'll start growing hair once again
From your armholes and ear holes and holes I won't name
And no ones explained and I've never read
Why it grows down your nostril but not on your head

Oh when you were just 21 all your girlfriends
Used to say you'd go like a Mercedes Benz
Now they all say that you're engine is slowing
They start you by hand and jump on once you're going

You've got lotions and potions and cream you've got grease
To cover each wrinkle and crinkle and crease
They fill all your cupboards from the front to the back
You've got more oil reserves than the whole of Iraq

So don't think that 50's the end of the line
That you've run out of track and you've run out of time
Cos I've said it before and I'll say it again
It's not the men in your life it's the life in your men

Now you must have had implants the odd tuck or two
To keep that voluptuous shape that you do
But too many facelifts and just as you feared
You'll end up with a curly triangular beard

Now some ladies at 50 they may go so far
As to give up the habit of wearing a bra
It don't add to your style it don't add to your grace
But it pulls all the wrinkles from out of your face

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: GUEST,Dave Roberts, Salt Town Poets
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 05:47 AM

Yes.

See www.hisworshipandthepig.co.uk

DR

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: Splott Man
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 07:24 AM

Loudon Wainwright III did one called The Birthday Present for his own 48th. It's up to his usual standard and can easily be adapted to 50.

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: GUEST,Sooz (at work)
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 07:24 AM

I sing "you've got lotions and potions of oil and of grease" I also alternate the blokes and ladies verses.
Its a great song - thanks Dave and Jeff!

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: black walnut
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 08:52 AM

Eve's song, which I mentioned above, has the great line: "If you weren't getting older, you'd be dead".

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: open mike
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 11:56 PM

BOB DYLAN'S FOREVER YOUNG IS A GOOD ONE..

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: Eve Goldberg
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 03:06 PM

Thanks, b.w. for mentioning my song! It's on my CD "Ever Brightening Day" and it's in kind of a swingy bluesy style:

Let's Throw a Party For Ourselves

By Eve Goldberg

Every year or so, no matter where you go
You know that day will arrive
That very special morn, the day that you were born
Ain't it good to be alive

CHO:

So darlin', sing and shout
Blow the candles out
Let's throw a party for ourselves

Well you can fuss and you can fret, you can try to forget
You can let it get into your head
But it's really not so bad, in fact you should be glad
If you weren't getting older, you'd be dead

(Cho)

So I hope you have some fun, on this trip around the sun
And whatever may be your fate
Your friends will stick by you, with a love so deep and true
And that's a thing to celebrate

(Cho)

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 04:57 PM

Get Up and Go

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: Jeanie
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 05:19 PM

Nifty When You're Fifty by Tony Winn, from the CD "Singing in the Bath".

- jeanie

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: GUEST,Pete Peterson
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 09:26 PM

Over the Hill to the Poorhouse (the version I know is from Flatt and Scruggs, but the song goes way back)
Silver in the Stubble (did Cliff Haslam write it? his version is the one I know)
Old Age Pension Check (Roy Acuff)
Old and Gray and Only In the Way (Charlie Poole) (particularly enjoy singing "so let us cheer them on, for they won't be with us long")
and so on!

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: Scanner
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 12:47 AM

Thanks everyone for responding.
Unfortunately I got very busy after I posted the query & this is the first chance I've had to check these messages. Some of these songs are hilarious.
The party was successful, however, it probably would have been even more fun if we had gotten these songs. Perhaps next year I will be able to present my friend with some of these songs.
Thanks again for your efforts.

Regards, Fay

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: Cats
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 05:43 AM

How about Happy Birthday to You?

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 12:25 PM

"I Don't Look Good Naked Anymore" -- only person I've heard sing it is Kendall.

Linn

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: PoppaGator
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 01:04 PM

Another appropriate choice from the Dylan catalog, besides "Forever Young," might be "My Back Pages" -- "Ah but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now."

Of course, the humorous stuff is more fun, and probably a necessary part of any high-number birthday celebration. But a few semi-serious songs should probably be included as well.

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Dec 04 - 08:47 PM

The Oldest Swinger in Town by Fred Wedlock would fit the bill.

Subject: RE: Songs for 50th Birthday
From: Wolfgang
Date: 29 Dec 04 - 06:37 AM

"Von nun an ging's bergab" (from now on, it's downhill) fits, except for the language.

Wolfgang