Clean Old Men

Story Behind The Song

This song came to me when I was camping with a group from church, just kind of floated down from heaven :). These are guys I have visited in the nursing home.

Song Description

I put together several visits with various old men and combined them into one song. I wanted to honor the greatest generation for their contribution to life and our country through their many years of service. I also wanted to challenge my listeners to take the time to visit old people. There are many lonely folks at nursing homes so hungry for a visit, so lonely.

Song Length 5:37 Genre Folk - General, Folk - Rural
Tempo Slow (71 - 90) Lead Vocal Female Vocal
Mood Peaceful, Quiet Subject Loneliness, General
Similar Artists Peter, Paul & Mary, Amy Grant Language English
Era 1990 - 1999

Lyrics

Strapped into his wheelchair, staring into space
Life is kind of slow now, it used to be a race
Time was when the feller sped his roadster round the bend
Now his gaze is blank; He's joined the rank
of clean old men, of clean old men

Oh his face feels rough and scratchy; crooky smile 'n bumpy nose
Can tell you how to feed and prune a county champion rose
Tell you how a feed machine tore his finger off back when
Now scars remain; arthritic pain
for clean old men, for clean old men

Chorus: Clean old men, clean old men
Has anyone got time to spend with clean old men?
Half an hour to listen, half a heart to care?
Half a mind to just take time to spend
and spend it with clean old men, clean old men
It's gettin' kind of near the end for clean old men.

He's got a stain on his old shirt and a button's missing there.
I wish the nurses' aide could find the time to wash his hair.
He may not smell terrific ?cause he has to wear Depends
But his heart is clean; on Christ he leans
He's one of Jesus' clean old men, one of Jesus' clean old men. CHORUS

So I'll rise before the aged; I'll give honor to the gray
to veterans of life and war, I've got a debt to pay
Someone's daddy, someone's grandpa, and his own father's son
But no one's left to visit him. I'm the only one
(or you're the only one to visit) CHORUS

this is really a good story. done well

This is a very nice story song about a veteran in a nursing home. I liked the instruments, the vocal and the arrangement. Overall a very nice job.

A nice easy and gentle Folk tune. Well written
and equally delivered. Clean pro production.

Nice melody and vocals, guitar sounds good as well. I think the song has a good progression and feel. Signer has a pleasant voice.

Interesting lyric composition. The solo guitar accompaniment fit this piece perfectly. The subtle string track(s) complemented the vocal and guitar tracks. Very nice, clear lead vocal with nice backing vocals.

nicely done, you have a great voice, very sweet and pretty, its a fun and interesting song, seems like it could almost be useful in a comedic way in the right place in a movie, Like something with a Jack Nicholson out to pasture scene.

Nice harmony Kate....you give us a thought that we are all going that way and does anyone have the time to spend...sad song, how many clean old men have no one to spend a little time...Your vocal is always great and the guitar is always spot on...well done

firstly beautiful vocal . very clear crisp harmonies vocally. unusual and interesting subject material and lyrical content. guitar flows along nicely. would like to check out more material from you. i like the fact this is folk i would say country/folk but its not at all predictable.

A very unusual song about being old and alone in a nursing home - a subject not often written about in song. Beautifully captures the sadness of ending a vibrant productive life in this fashion.

A great idea for a song that is well executed and performed. A nice story song...
There will always be a market for this type of song...
Well done!

A BEAUTIFUL SINGING VOICE. I WAS MESMERIZED. A very melodic folk tune that was very pleasant on the ears.

Lyrics Kate Carpenter Music Kate Carpenter
Producer Eugene Baker Publisher Kate Carpenter
Performance Kate Carpenter Label Kate Carpenter
This track is on 2 Member Playlists
Playlist Creator Playlist Name Date Added
hawnsmith Mrs. Kate 3/30/2012
acrokid2 Kate Carpenter 12/11/2010

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Clean Clean

Clean Clean

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