Old Folks Music

A boomer reminisces

When I was in high school, my best friend told me that someday when we were convalescing in the Old Folks Home, the music that they would pipe in through the overhead speakers would be songs by The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, and Jimi Hendrix. “You’re crazy!” I said. “They’ll be piping in old folks music, like Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and Lawrence Welk.”

He was right, of course.

Back then I believed that rock and roll would never die, and I knew that even though the acts would change I would always stay current. I maintained my delusion for quite a while. The British Invasion, blues rock, and psychedelia played out, but southern rock, prog rock, punk, and grunge came along to replace them.

And then something odd happened: sometime in the 90s I began to lose track of the new latest things in rock. Part of the problem is that Rock and Roll, much to my surprise, wound down and faded away, and was replaced (in most of the ways that matter) by Hip Hop and Rap (NOTE: these may be the same thing; as a Boomer, I’m not really sure).

I don’t listen to music as much as I used to, not even in the car. Sometimes when I’m working out on the treadmill I’ll put on some ear buds and listen to some of the songs I remember from way back when (a sure sign that I’m old, I suppose). I’ve settled on the idea that when they usher me into the Old Folks Home, I’ll spend my days listening to Janis Joplin, The Doors, the Who, and the Temptations.

And I’m okay with that.

Just for fun, here’s a short list of random lines (in no particular order) from various songs I used to listen to that stayed with me for one reason or another. These lyrics aren’t necessarily autobiographical, but after all these years they remain somehow meaningful to me:

“There’s battle lines being drawn. Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong.”

“I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles. Oh yeah!”

“I ain’t sayin’ you treated me unkind. You could’ve done better, but I don’t mind.”

“I’m in the middle without any plans. I’m a boy and I’m a man. I’m eighteen, and I don’t know what I want.” [This song came out when I was eighteen, and it hit home like a bullseye.]

“Time to live, time to lie. Time to laugh, time to die. Take it easy, baby. Take it as it comes.”

“I stand up next to a mountain, and I chop it down with the edge of my hand.”

“I want you. I need you. But there ain’t no way that I’m ever gonna love you. Now don’t be sad: two out of three ain’t bad.”

“I’ve gone to buy a ticket now, as far as I can. Ain’t never comin’ back.”

“Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.”

“Did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts? Hot ashes for trees? Hot air for a cool breeze? Cold comfort for change? Did you exchange a walk-on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?”

“Here we are now—entertain us!”

“I can turn the gray sky blue. I can make it rain whenever I want it to.”

“What will be our last thought? Do you think it’s coming soon? Will it be of comfort, or the pain of a burning wound?”

“And freedom? Oh, freedom. Well, that’s just some people talking. Your prison is walking through this world all alone.”

“Put me in, coach. I’m ready to play today!”

“No, his mind is not for rent to any god or government. Always hopeful, yet discontent, he knows changes aren’t permanent.”

“You can’t be twenty on Sugar Mountain, though you’re thinking that you’re leaving there too soon.”

“Well, I woke up Sunday mornin' with no way to hold my head that didn't hurt. And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad, so I had one more for dessert. Then I fumbled in my closet through my clothes and found my cleanest dirty shirt. Then I washed my face and combed my hair and stumbled down the stairs to meet the day.”

“If I swallow anything evil, put your finger down my throat, and if I shiver please give me a blanket; keep me warm, let me wear your coat.”

“My love is the evenin' breeze touchin' your skin, the gentle, sweet singin' of leaves in the wind, the whisper that calls after you in the night and kisses your ear in the early moonlight.” [Might be the most romantic song lyric I’ve ever heard.]

“My girlfriend’s run off with my car and gone back to her ma and pa, telling tales of drunkenness and cruelty.”

“Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.”

“Well, I woke up this morning and I grabbed myself a beer. The future’s uncertain and the end is always near. Let it roll!”

“And in her eyes you see nothing. No sign of love behind the tears cried for no one. A love that should have lasted years.”

“It’s alright, it’s alright: you can’t be forever blessed. Still, tomorrow’s gonna be another working day, and I’m trying to get some rest.”

And finally:

“Sometimes the light’s all shining on me. Other times I can barely see. Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip it’s been.”