# Jazz standards about getting old...? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 20, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376 "2011-01-20T21:08:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/1 "2011-01-20T21:08:28Z")
In March I will be singing a super-mini set (three songs) of jazz standards at [Blues Alley](http://bluesalley.com/). The next day my great-aunt will turn 101 – god willing – and even though she won’t be there I’m thinking about dedicating a song to her. I’d like it to be relatively uptempo, and having something to do with getting/being old. So far, the only thing that comes to mind is Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes.” Keeping in mind that I need to stick pretty closely to the Great American Songbook, does anyone have any other ideas? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/2 "2011-01-20T21:26:15Z")
Definitely not uptempo, but does _September Song_ count? CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/3 "2011-01-20T22:04:41Z")
I’d suggest “They Can’t Take That Away From Me”. It’s not explicitly about aging, but I think it hits the notes you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/4 "2011-01-20T22:10:52Z")
Thanks for responding! I always thought that “September Song” was about an old man in love with a young girl, not about being old in general…? And yeah, not up-tempo. 🙂 How does “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” – about the reasons why the singer will always be in love with the subject – hit any of the notes I’m looking for? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/5 "2011-01-20T22:24:17Z")
Frank Sinatra’s It Was a Very Good Year? ETA: shoot, didn’t notice you were looking for up-tempo. It’s not about aging, per se, but how about Accentuate the Positive? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/6 "2011-01-20T22:29:31Z")
I’d use [Thanks for the Memory](http://www.squidoo.com/bob-hope-thanks-for-the-memory-lyrics) in a situation like this. Although it specifically references the end of a relationship, it’s often sung to commemorate long-lived people or things. Every other song I can think of about growing old has a much slower tempo. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/7 "2011-01-20T22:32:18Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > How does “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” – about the reasons why the singer will always be in love with the subject – hit any of the notes I’m looking for? 😕 I’ve heard it sung at a lot of tributes for older people. Also, some of the habits mentioned in the lyrics (or at least preoccupation with them) do seem to belong to another generation. Further, there’s sort of an unspoken trope that part of growing older is facing mortality. Telling someone you will always remember them addresses that–in a positive way. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/8 "2011-01-20T22:40:03Z")
Waitaminnut - how about [Young at Heart](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bslSxYwgwlE)by Sinatra? I knew there was a Sinatra song I was thinking of! You could do it kinda medium tempo… ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/9 "2011-01-20T23:04:20Z")
I’m sorry, the only song I can think of right now is the wildly inappropriate, and much more blues than jazz [Grown so ugly](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTFWkLmc_7w) by Robert Pete Williams. Which has a [fantastic Beefheart cover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGbDYUoDn4Y). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/10 "2011-01-20T23:22:39Z")
There’s the old Hoagy Carmichael tune, “Rockin’ Chair”, which you could possibly arrange for a more upbeat tempo. Or “Too Old To Cut The Mustard”. Or “As Time Goes By”. “This Old House”, Rosemary Clooney. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/11 "2011-01-20T23:55:32Z")
Interesting question. Up-tempo and somehow about old… How about ‘You Make Me Feel So Young’? The implication is that the speaker is not actually young anymore… For a touch of irony, there’s ‘Younger than Springtime’ from ‘South Pacific’ or ‘This Could Be The Start of Something Big’. ‘Old Devil Moon’ from ‘Finian’s Rainbow’, ‘Old Black Magic’ might work. ‘Old Man River’ is right out, I’d think… ‘When I’m 64’ by Lennon-McCartney, but I’m not sure it would work in an up-tempo Jazz arrangement… That’s all I’ve got so far, but you’ve intrigued me - I’ll keep churning the idea around. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/12 "2011-01-21T06:16:59Z")
[When You and I Were Young, Maggie](http://www.rampantscotland.com/songs/blsongs_young.htm) is a 19th century song about growing old that became a traditional jazz standard. [Here is a version by Sidney Bechet](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBTjPyUO3Nk), without lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/13 "2011-01-21T12:42:38Z")
Everything Old is New Again. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/14 "2011-01-21T14:15:21Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > ‘When I’m 64’ by Lennon-McCartney, but I’m not sure it would work in an up-tempo Jazz arrangement… That’s the first song that came to mind and, actually, I think it would be quite perfect in a jazz setting (specifically in a Dixieland jazz or other combo setting.) But, yeah, if we’re talking a big band setting, maybe a little more difficult. Unfortunately, I don’t think it quite qualifies as a jazz standard and certainly not Great American Songbook. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/15 "2011-01-21T14:17:45Z")
_As Time Goes By_, if you kept it moving. _Hello Young Lovers._ \*Will You Still Be Mine? \* ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/16 "2011-01-21T15:36:33Z")
[There’ll Be Some Changes Made](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4coCz62z_M&feature=related) – definitely a standard, can be uptempo/swingy (like this rendition) or sultry/jazzy, and has the line “nobody wants you when you’re old and gray.” ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/17 "2011-01-21T15:42:07Z")
_Don’t Get Around Much Anymore_ – [Nat King Cole](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJLMvH92KjQ); [Willie Nelson](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvhvoHcd-ag); [Crappy version of Ella Fitzgerald](http://www.hotjazzchops.com/index.php?artist=66&cmd=watchvideo.php&id=469) It’s an actual jazz standard; it’s actually about getting old, kinda; and it’s actually somewhat upbeat. Plus it’s a fantastic song. What more could one want? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/18 "2011-01-21T15:43:27Z")
\*\*Blue Turning Grey Over You \*\*by Fats Waller. I rather like Audrey Morris’ version, which is light and uptempo despite the not particularly happy subject. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/19 "2011-01-21T15:51:52Z")
What about two from Steve and Eydie? “I Remember it Well” is about an aging man misremembering his first date with his wife and her correcting him with love. “Darn it, Baby That’s Love” is a duet about how they’re aging and still it love. Both are great, fun songs in a jazz style. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376/20 "2011-01-21T16:02:19Z")
Thanks to everyone who has responded! Some interesting ideas here… 🙂 (And they’re all great songs, whether they work for what I have in mind or not. I freaking love how much great music is out there!) If it matters, I’ll be singing with a trio: piano, bass, drums. They’re all better players than I deserve to be on stage with, frankly, and I’ll only have practiced with the pianist ahead of time. I’ll also be part of a group of other singers doing other three-song sets, so there’s not much wiggle room when it comes to the jazz standard/Great American Songbook requirement – but I also can’t duplicate a song that anyone else is doing. > [@StusBlues](#): > > I’ve heard it sung at a lot of tributes for older people. Also, some of the habits mentioned in the lyrics (or at least preoccupation with them) do seem to belong to another generation. Gotcha. I tend to interpret lyrics more literally, though, so if I’m not feelin’ it I won’t be able to deliver it. > [@WordMan](#): > > Waitaminnut - how about [Young at Heart](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bslSxYwgwlE)by Sinatra? This might be my favorite suggestion so far: pretty much exactly the theme I’m looking for, and I almost immediately starting imagining working out a light-hearted, uptempo arrangement. Thanks! 🙂 > [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > ‘Old Man River’ is right out, I’d think… Um, yeah. If for no other reason than I’m a white soprano. 😉 > [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > it’s actually about getting old, kinda Huh? “Don’t Get Around Much Any More” has nothing to do with getting/being old… > [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > “I Remember it Well” is about an aging man misremembering his first date with his wife and her correcting him with love. That’s the right idea, but it’s a duet. If there were any men in my group strong enough to duet with I would, but there aren’t so I can’t. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jazz-standards-about-getting-old/568376.md?page=2)