17 Sep 08 - 12:11 AM (#2442736) Subject: Geezer Music From: Mrrzy Per this article in Slate - what did they miss, and what should they not have included, y'all? |
17 Sep 08 - 02:17 AM (#2442777) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Escapee Harry Nilson's "I'd Rather Be Dead (Than Wet My Bed)" I think it was on "Son of Shmilson" |
17 Sep 08 - 02:21 AM (#2442779) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Genie First off, that column was obviously written by some young whippersnapper, as evidenced by his citing Willie Nelson as the primary artist for "September Song" (from "Nickerbocker Holiday" in the 1930s, with words by Maxwell Anderson and music by Kurt Weill). LOL (Yeah, I know, he does credit the composers, but I'm just sayin' ... .) But I'd say the writer hasn't even scratched the surface -- even for relatively contemporary songs. Here's his list: Joe Tex, "Buying a Book" Tom Lehrer, "When You Are Old and Gray" Willie Nelson, "September Song" Fats Waller, "Old Grand Dad" Bill Withers, "Grandma's Hands" Gene Autry, "That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine Will Oakland, "Silver Threads Among the Gold" Jacques Brel, "Les Vieux" Elvis Costello, "Veronica" Pulp, "Help the Aged" Jay-Z, "30 Something" Toby Keith, "As Good As I Once Was" LCD Soundsystem, "Losing My Edge" Kitty Wells, "A Woman Half My Age" Steely Dan, "Hey Nineteen" " Joe Tex, "Buying a Book" How about these? "Hello In There," John Prine "A Daisy A Day," Jud Strunk "(When You And I Were Young,) Maggie" "Old Love" "Get Up And Go," Pete Seeger "Maids, When You're Young, Never Wed An Old Man" "Years From Now," Don Williams "100 Years," Five For Fighting "Those Were The Days," Gene Raskin Lots more |
17 Sep 08 - 02:22 AM (#2442780) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Genie |
17 Sep 08 - 02:26 AM (#2442784) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Peace "Geezer Music" O, come all Old Faithful . . . . |
17 Sep 08 - 03:19 AM (#2442803) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Genie "The Dutchman" - Michael Smith |
17 Sep 08 - 09:21 AM (#2443005) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: topical tom "All Used Up" by Utah Phillips. |
17 Sep 08 - 10:20 AM (#2443046) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: pdq Nowadays, anything with a melody is aimed at geezers. |
17 Sep 08 - 10:23 AM (#2443050) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: olddude I am a geezer and I wear it PROUDLY !!! Like Spaw with farting, I say stand up and be Proud of your Geezership!! |
17 Sep 08 - 11:20 AM (#2443095) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: GUEST,Dazbo at work How can you have a thread about geezer music and not mention Chas and Dave???? |
17 Sep 08 - 11:27 AM (#2443098) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Mark Ross GOODNIGHT LOVIN TRAIL, Utah Phillips again. Mark Ross |
17 Sep 08 - 12:30 PM (#2443137) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: ClaireBear "Geritol Gypsy" (Peter Krug) "Last Night on the Midland" (Stan Rogers) "Port of Call" (Kieran Halprin) |
17 Sep 08 - 12:33 PM (#2443139) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: PoppaGator While not so much about old age as about aging in general, the refrain line of Dylan's "My Back Pages" mades the song a big favorite for fiftieth birthday parties a decade ago, and still applies for 60ths and 65ths: I was so much older then I'm younger than than now. (Many folks know it better as a Byrds song than as Bob's. That's OK; not everyone who has made it to this age was totally hip back when they were kids, but by this time it hardly matters.) When I started to write this post, I had two songs in mind that I wanted to mention. Now I don't remember the other one. I'm sure you can guess why... |
17 Sep 08 - 12:50 PM (#2443151) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: GUEST,Pete Peterson Genie, I would forgive the Slate writer for much, because on the second page (you only listed the first page) the writer listed Charlie Poole's song "Old and Only In the Way" (originally composed 1880) -- even though he credited it to Hazel Dickens. I would also think "Over the Hill to the Poorhouse" belongs on any list, as does Roy Acuff's "Old Age Pension Check" even though its message seems a little unrealistic these days. |
17 Sep 08 - 12:50 PM (#2443153) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: dick greenhaus Silver in the Stubble The Good Boy Boomer Johnson When You and I Were Young, Maggie |
17 Sep 08 - 01:02 PM (#2443176) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: ClaireBear Sorry, Kieran Halpin above, not Halprin. Also: "Chanson des Vieux Amants" (Jacques Brel) "In the Hills of Shiloh" (Shel Silverstein) |
17 Sep 08 - 01:33 PM (#2443226) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge I `ad that Willy Nelson in my cab once. I said, " I like yer titfer guvnor. Where to then?" `e said, " Could you drop me off at the Traditions Club please, I`m gonna do some "geezer " music" I said, "Whatcha got in mind then, something like When You and I Were Young Maggie?" `e said, " Nah, I`m gonna do On Top of Old Smokey. I told yer. It`s "geyser" music!!" Whaddam I Like!! |
17 Sep 08 - 02:55 PM (#2443303) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: GUEST,Jim Mark Rust's Class Reunion Todd Snyder's Old Timer Guy Clark's Desperados Waiting For A Train Jerry Jeff Walker's My Old Man, or Mr. Bojangles I know I'll think of more as soon as I send this. |
17 Sep 08 - 03:03 PM (#2443323) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Bill D Over the Hills to the Poorhouse Over the Hills to the Poorhouse Oh how can it be they have driven Our father so helpless and old Oh God may their crimes be forgiven To perish out here in the cold Chorus I'm old, I'm helpless and feeble And the days of my youth have gone by And over the hills to the poor house I must wander alone there to die Long years since Mary was taken My faithful affectionate wife Since then I've been alone and forsaken The light has died out of my life Oh me on the doorstep up yonder I've set with my babes on my knee No father so happy or fonder Than I of my little ones three I gave them the place that they lived on A deed to the farm and more I gave them the house they were born in And now I am turned from its door |
17 Sep 08 - 03:03 PM (#2443324) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: pdq Half of all bluegrass songs are "geezer songs" and the other half" Christian gospel". Works for me. |
17 Sep 08 - 03:05 PM (#2443327) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Bill D as played BY a geezer |
17 Sep 08 - 03:10 PM (#2443331) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Bill D Too Old to Cut the Mustard |
17 Sep 08 - 03:16 PM (#2443339) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Bill D sort of, but not 'quite'... The Black Sheep (why yes, I AM old enough to take these personally...why do you ask?) |
17 Sep 08 - 04:36 PM (#2443427) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Bill D you DO need to sign your posts, Joe Offer is getting picky. How hard can it be?...unless you are a geezer.... |
17 Sep 08 - 04:52 PM (#2443435) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Genie GUEST Pete, I did look at the second page, but there was an ad in the middle of the page, so I didn't realize the page-2 list continued after the ad. Here's the rest of the list from the Slate article: Frank Sinatra, "The September of My Years" The Grateful Dead, "Touch of Grey" Hoagy Carmichael, "Rockin' Chair" Nas, "Can't Forget About You" Hazel Dickens, "Old and in the Way" The Magnetic Fields, "When You're Old and Lonely" Celia Cruz, "Yo Vivire (I Will Survive)" Johnny Cash, "We'll Meet Again" (Get out the hankie for Cash's spoken-word verse that begins at the 1:32 mark.) The Zimmers, "My Generation" Jimmy Durante, "Young at Heart" How could we leave this one off the list? "It Was A Very Good Year" |
17 Sep 08 - 04:58 PM (#2443438) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Genie From the musical GIGI: "I'm Glad I'm Not Young Any More" "Ah, Yes, I Remember It Well" From the musical CATS: "Memory" |
17 Sep 08 - 05:08 PM (#2443447) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: PoppaGator Now I remember the second song I had meant to mention earlier. Seeing Hoagy Carmichael's "Rocking Chair" on the list reminded me of The Band's (i.e., Robby Robertson's) song of the same title, which is also about an old man looking back on his life, in this case an old sailor. A beautiful rendition of a beautiful composition ~ Richard Manuel's vocal is just amazing. And I'm reminded of yet another song by the sentence I just wrote(!): Neil Young's "Old Man (Take a Look at My Life)." |
17 Sep 08 - 07:08 PM (#2443539) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Mrrzy Whose was the one about their get-up-and-go having got up and went? |
17 Sep 08 - 07:25 PM (#2443553) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Genie That's "Get Up And Go" - the one I attributed to Pete Seeger. He did record it, but I'm not sure who wrote it. |
17 Sep 08 - 09:23 PM (#2443607) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Genie Like Bob Dylan, We Are All Aging |
17 Sep 08 - 09:43 PM (#2443615) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Genie October Roses (Linda Allen) (in the DT). |
17 Sep 08 - 10:48 PM (#2443662) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Effsee Fred Wedlock - "The oldest swinger in town". |
18 Sep 08 - 10:06 AM (#2444003) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: topical tom Another geezer song: "Old and in The Way |
18 Sep 08 - 10:41 AM (#2444021) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Colin Randall Martin Simpson's "A Love Letter" from his recent album Prodigal Son tells beautifully of his real-life surprise and gratitude, as a man of mature years, at winning the love of a much younger woman. Leon Rosselson's "Song of the Old Communist", which I think is loosely based on his father or certainly his father's generation of CP activists, superbly captures the leftie old geezer looking back on a life of purpose but little achievement (and grumpily chiding the younger generation's obsession with consumerism). You do NOT need to be a card-carrying member to appreciate it..... |
18 Sep 08 - 10:43 AM (#2444023) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Charmion I believe that "Get up and go" is a Woody Guthrie song. |
25 Sep 08 - 03:30 PM (#2450142) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: GUEST,Jim Wasn't there a song that went,"Kids! Who can tell what's wrong with these kids today?" from a musical? Sounds like it was sung by a Geezer. |
25 Sep 08 - 08:04 PM (#2450417) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Joe_F IIRC, Pete Seeger expanded "Get Up & Go" from a few lines he found on a bathroom wall. |
25 Sep 08 - 11:37 PM (#2450545) Subject: ADDPOP: Kids (Bye Bye Birdie) From: Joe Offer "Kids" from Bye Bye Birdie is a great geezer song. Lyrics for the entire musical are at this URL (watch the popups): http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/b/byebyebirdiethemusical.shtml BYE BYE BIRDIE (The Musical) (Music by Charles Strouse / Lyrics by Lee Adams) KIDS Kids! I don't know what's wrong with these kids today! Kids! Who can understand anything they say? Kids! They a disobedient, disrespectful oafs! Noisy, crazy, dirty, lazy, loafers! While we're on the subject: Kids! You can talk and talk till your face is blue! Kids! But they still just do what they want to do! Why can't they be like we were, Perfect in every way? What's the matter with kids today? Kids! I've tried to raise him the best I could Kids! Kids! Laughing, singing, dancing, grinning, morons! And while we're on the subject! Kids! They are just impossible to control! Kids! With their awful clothes and their rock an' roll! Why can't they dance like we did What's wrong with Sammy Kaye? What's the matter with kids today! KIDS (REPRISE) Kids! I don't know what's wrong with these kids today! Kids! Who can understand anything they say? Kids! They are so ridiculous and immature! I don't see why anybody wants 'em! Just you wait and see Kids! Kids! They are just impossible to control! (Soon you'll be old enough to be) Kids! With their awful clothes and their rock an' roll! (Another teenage delinquent) Why can't they be like you were, Perfect in every way? What's the matter with kids to-- Kids! What the devil's wrong with these kids today? Kids! Who could guess the they would turn out that way! Why can't they be like we were, Perfect in every way? What's the matter with kids? What's the matter with kids? What's the matter with kids today? |
26 Sep 08 - 10:31 AM (#2450841) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: topical tom This song sure makes this geezer tear up! "Sing Me The Old Songs as sung by Tommy Makem |
01 Oct 08 - 02:49 PM (#2455055) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: GUEST,Jim Didn't George Burns used to sing a song called I Wish I Was Fifty Again...or maybe it was I Wish I Was Sixty Again? |
01 Oct 08 - 02:55 PM (#2455062) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: GUEST,Jim Sorry, I was wrong. It was Eighteen, not fifty, but I'm pretty sure I've heard him say, perhaps after singing this song,"I wish I was fifty, sixty, seventy or eighty again." Heck even ninety would have worked for him. I WISH I WAS EIGHTEEN AGAIN (Sonny Throckmorton) Jerry Lee Lewis - 1979 George Burns - 1980 Slim Whitman - 1991 Flat Duo Jets - 1995 Ray Price - 1999 Also recorded by: Tom Jones; Frankie Yankovic. At a bar down in Dallas an old man chimed in And I thought he was out of his his head Just being a young man, I just laughed it off When I heard what that old man had said He said I'll never again turn the young ladies heads Or go running off into the wind I'm three quarters home from the start to the end And I wish I was eighteen again I wish I was eighteen again And going where I've never been But old folks and old oaks Standing tall just pretend I wish I was eighteen again Now time turns the pages and oh, life goes so fast The years turn the black hair all grey I talked to some young folks, hey they don't understand The words this old man's got to say I wish I was eighteen again And going where I've never been But old folks and old oaks Standing tall just pretend I wish I was eighteen again Lord, I wish I was eighteen again! **************************** As recorded by SLIM WHITMAN: In a park down in Dallas an old man chimed in And I thought he was out of his his head And being a young guy, I just laughed it off When I heard what that old man had said He said I'll never again turn the young ladies heads Or go running off into the wind I'm three quarters home from the start to the end And I wish I was eighteen again Oh, I wish I was eighteen again 'Cause I'm going where I've never been Old folks and old oaks standing tall just pretend And I wish I was eighteen again Time turns the pages, the years how they fly The dark hair has all turned to grey I talk to some kids, but they don't understand The words that I've got to say I wish I was eighteen again 'Cause I'm going where I've never been Old folks and old oaks standing tall just pretend And I wish I was eighteen again I'm three quarters home from the start to the end And I wish I was eighteen again |
03 Oct 08 - 07:37 PM (#2456782) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: Art Thieme A Handful Of Songs by Jerry Rasmussen It is the last song on my Waterbug CD called The Older I Get, The Better I was |
04 Oct 08 - 10:35 AM (#2457110) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: olddude How about "I just don't look good Naked anymore" by Sheb Wooley |
04 Oct 08 - 11:02 AM (#2457119) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: John on the Sunset Coast Did anyone mention the Statler Bros., "The Class of '57 (Had its Dream)? "Grandma Got Run Over by a Herbivore" |
04 Oct 08 - 01:38 PM (#2457190) Subject: RE: Geezer Music From: GUEST,Jim People My Age John Gorka People my age Have started looking gross I cannot say all And I shouldn't say most I've seen 'em in the grocery I've seen 'em up close And People my age Have started looking gross People my age Are showing some wear There's holes where their teeth was And their heads have gone bare Their brains are shrinking Faces sinking into fat And as for the mirror We won't be looking into that People my age Have started looking gross Maybe not in Colorado Or up the Silicon Coast Back in Pennsylvania I'd eat scrapple on toast Those were my first steps On the road to looking gross People my age Are looking overripe Some are getting operations To tighten up what ain't tight What gravity's ruined They try to fix with a knife What's pleasant in the darkness Is plain scary in the light Gross |