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Old Folks

by Billy Dreskin

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about

"Old Folks" comes from "Go Out in Joy," Beged Kefet's 2nd album (1991). Beged Kefet (1982-2009) was comprised of: Rabbi Les Bronstein, Rabbi Billy Dreskin, Cantor Ellen Dreskin, Cantor Riki Lippitz, Cantor Benjie Ellen Schiller, Beth Sher, and Cantor Leon Sher. As you will hear, we worked hard to produce tight harmonies. And this was before you could tune things up afterward. Audio verite, you might say!

lyrics

OLD FOLKS
Words and Music by Billy Dreskin

Grown ups like to sit down to supper
and open up a bottle of their best Italian wine.
And if the label on the bottle
says the wine is really old then grown ups say “it’s divine.”
Lots of stuff in the world seems to get better with age,
while other things get yanked right off life’s stage.

Friends are something special,
They have a way of making each day a little brighter all around.
But if you’ve got something called “an old friend”
others will say, “That’s a treasure you have found!”
Lots of stuff in the world increases value with time,
while other things aren’t worth a single dime!

Take a look and see
all the things we hold on to just ‘cuz we want to
Age may be the key
but that key doesn’t fit too many doors
How do you suppose
we decide what to keep and what’s garbage for the heap?
Isn’t it common sense, or is it evidence
of our indifference?

We love going shopping for sweaters
and shirts and shoes and anything else we can wear,
but everyone knows old clothes fit best
being soft and familiar gives comfort to spare.
Lots of things in the world improve with additional years,
While other stuff just somehow disappears!

Most of us appreciate things well seasoned.
And when we cast aside, it’s usually well-reasoned.
But we wonder why it is, so many old folks
are looked upon as hangers on,
like busted wheels without spokes
or empty shells without yolks.

Take a look and see
all the things we hold on to just ‘cuz we want to
Age may be the key
but that key doesn’t fit too many doors
How do you suppose
we decide what to keep and what’s garbage for the heap?
Isn’t it common sense, or is it evidence
of our indifference?

Being older doesn’t necessarily
mean it’s time to pack up and fade away.
We’re here to state au contraire-ily,
a wealth of years in our book is more than okay.
Everything in the world grows old,
every what, which and who.
So if wine becomes first rate
And if [our] friends appreciate
and if clothing fits just [it fits] great
then we can postulate, it must [that it’s got to] be true
that old folks just keep getting better too!

credits

released December 1, 1991
Keyboard and computer programming: Billy Dreskin
Vocals: Beged Kefet
Sound Engineering: Skipp Tullen z"l
Recorded in 1991 at Tullen Sound Recording (Morristown, NJ)

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Billy Dreskin New York, New York

While Billy Dreskin has spent most of his life as a rabbi, he studied music composition at Brandeis University and graduated with a love of writing for musical theatre. Way back in 1985, his music was featured in the off-Broadway musical, "Personals," Now retired and teetering on the edge of “old manhood,” Billy still loves creating music and is eager to do more. ... more

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