Story Behind The Song

I work as a psychotherapist for older adults who live in adult homes and assisted living facilities. I bear witness to their losses, their lonliness, their courage and their joy. This song is about aging in a congregate care facility.

Song Description

aging in an adult home

Lyrics

Any Town USA

Raymond claims he?s the chosen one
With long grey locks and hands that read
Half the time he speaks in rhyme
Who?s to say he may well be
Laureli she likes her wine
Needs an operation to help her walk
Bottle has become her crutch
She can?t seem to find the cork

Pick the time you pick the day it?s any town USA
At the old age home in the resident?s lounge
Listen up you can hear them say
Food is lousy it?s not like my own there?ll never be a place like home
I can?t endure another loss and who appointed her the boss
Pick the time you pick the day it?s any town USA
At the old age home in the resident?s lounge
Where Bingo?s played for a nickel game

Natalie she loves the sea
Water?s rough but the sky has sun
Ocean?s now her kindest friend
Waits for her children to come
Smoking Joe?s playing piano
Emily?s singing on the porch
The ladies line up one by one
Maybe Joe will light their torch

Pick the time you pick the day it?s any town USA
At the old age home in the resident?s lounge
Listen up you can hear them say
Place is drafty and I?m feeling so cold I go complain the years have made me bold
When I return someone?s in my chair I bite my lip and I say a prayer
Pick the time you pick the day it?s any town USA
At the old age home in the resident?s lounge
Where day is night and night is day

I?m tired of dragging my shadow around Maybe I?ll rest put my head down
Leaves are falling from the willow The years they drain onto my pillow

Pick the time you pick the day it?s any town USA
At the old age home in the resident?s lounge
Granny?s sleeping but that?s OK

c copyright 2004 by Diane Ruggiero-Ivanov
538 First Ave. North Brunswick, NJ 08902
djivanov@aol.com 732.247.2654 732.910.8539