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September 9, 2010 · Funny Songs, Life In Song 1970's

Old Joe-Song 016

“Life In Song” #16: “Old Joe” Another song about an imagined character. Old Joe is kind of a combination of my grandparents on my dad’s side as well as other crusty old geezers I’ve known or seen portrayed in movies or in stories…I kind of hope when I’m really old I’ll be just like him as well…Not sure if I have any other recordings of this, I’ll dig around and if I can find them, they’ll be in the “backstage pass” members area...which if you haven’t joined yet you over here…=====>

PLEASE! Use headphones or decent speakers to listen to this instead of your tinny little computer speakers. It’s recorded in crystal clear digital sound and the headphones really make a difference!
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Audio:

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Lyrics:

Old Joe | March 1978 | Song # 16

Old Joe, he don’t go
Farther than the front steps you know
He sits on the porch with a bottle in a bag
Humming a sweet refrain from a Scott Joplin Rag…
Now Old Joe, he don’t know
None of that “Goddamn Rock N Roll”
Ain’t in to high fidelity
Never listens to the Radio
Makes all the music he could want
On A Sears-Roebuck banjo

Refrain:
He’s 89 and he says he feels just fine
Says the Lord’s welcome to take him any time
But if the Lord don’t want him, Old Joe don’t mind
He grew up in western Indiana
Round the turn of the century
He knew the ways of the corn field forest
And the waves of the wheat field sea

Old Joe always grows
Lots of good stuff out back you know
Got a garden full of cucumbers
Onions and potatoes
Got carrots and head lettuce
And Juicy red tomatoes…
Now Old Joe, he kind of mean
To the kids that steal his green beans
But nonetheless his garden’s blessed
If you’ve seen it you know what I mean…

Refrain:

Old Joe, he don’t care
Much ‘bout fancy clothes to wear
Got some well patched old green kakis
And some good bib overalls
And he keeps ‘em clean with the warshin’ machine
He’s had for years and years…
Now old Joe, he jest stays
Right ‘bout where he is these days
Yet he says he been to ‘Frisco
And he claims he been to Rome
But you’d have to say that in it’s own way
His rocking chair is his home…

Refrain:

Tuning: Standard, Capo on 2nd fret


Creative Commons License
“Old Joe” by Mark Shepard is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
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Filed Under: Funny Songs, Life In Song 1970's

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Some reviews & testimonials

Enjoying your songs so much…

Hello Mark. I am enjoying your songs so much! I’d love to see you play live somewhere.

Marianne

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album…

Love the “Key To Your Cage” album. I hear so many different influences and styles woven throughout the songs, really keeps it interesting from start to finish!

Dan Z

For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love…

Dear Mark, THANK YOU for sending *Spark & Flame*!!!! This CD certainly is a compilation of Conscious Love Songs! As I listen I am transported to memory after memory past, present and future, fulfilled and unfulfilled. I was flooded with many different emotions. I cried, laughed, held my breath and also breathed deep heart-centered breaths of connection to the Divine. I feel joy, grief, sadness, compassion, love, awe, freedom, kindness, gratitude and appreciation. For me these songs are transformational lessons in self-love, releasing, acceptance for what was, what is and who I am. Knowing that I am enough and that I am Divinely Loved.

J

Just awesome…

Your music is taking over my life and it’s awesome!

Eric

Brilliant!

Brilliant! I LOVE seeing the words to all these beloved songs, thanks!

Mary F.

Love your lyrics!

Love your music! Love your lyrics!

Robin Bridgeford

Your song was just perfect to start my day…

Mark, your song ‘Freedom (It’s Been  Long Road)’ was just perfect to start my day. I LOVE IT!  Thank you, Thank you.  Blessings to you and much gratitude for your musical gift.

Judy

You write some great songs!

Hi Mark, You write some great songs! I really enjoyed listening to all of them on Spark and Flame. Thank you for all that you do. Keep up the good work! All the best.

Susan

I loved the song and listened to it 3 times….

Hi Mark, I just had to tell you this. I emailed my 3 granddaughters the song you wrote who are sisters with the youngest being 11 years old, has cerebral palsy and is very smart, is able to talk, very funny, uses a computer, is able to write, now is learning to play drums, emails me ‘Thanks. I do.’ I loved the song and listened to it 3 times.

Gail Russ

Total awesomeness!!!

‘Let’s Run’ is MY FAVORITE so far.. I LOVE THIS ONE.. great job.. total awesomeness!!! I thank Jana Stanfield for introducing me to your gifts. I am grateful.

Merril

I Love listening to all your songs…

Mark, you really are an amazing songwriter! I Love listening to all your songs and sitting in the creative aura they create!

Cheri

Been singing the chorus since the first day I heard it…

I sh*t you not when I say I’ve been singing the chorus to Honest Rock since the first day I heard it. I sing this every single day. Many times a day. Seriously. It’s like a mantra to me. It soothes me:-)

Gene Moore

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred…

Your lyrics embody everything we hold sacred and dear as a faith community.

Gina Sullivan, Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph

They love (your song) and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

My name is Cecile. I teach kindergarten at OMSD. I had the pleasure of using your song Together We Can Change The World to help my students make a difference in this wonderful world! They love it and ask to listen to it, ALWAYS.

Cecile Arvizo

You have put a grown man in tears…

Mark, this song and message really hit home for me today. You have put a grown man in tears. Thank You for what you do. Sometimes I think you sound kind of cheesy, and then others, I think you are a genius, and I’m beginning to realize that you actually care about helping people. So hard to “get out of your own way” sometimes…thanks for the reminder.

Jeremy

Never fails to move me…

Your incredible music never fails to move me. Thank you, Mark.

Paula

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