“I Wouldn't Have an Old Man”
Description
The singer refuses to have any part of an old man. She contrasts old and young men: The old are "slobbery," bony, have too many cows to milk, and hog the covers; young men are well-dressed and can keep a girl warm
Notes
I suspect this may be a clean version of "I Wouldn't Marry an Old Man," but Ed Cray did not equate the two, and who am I to argue? (It is worth noting that Roud doesn't seem to consider this a song in its own right).
Paul Stamler points out that this song also exists in a version which complains about women, sung by Chubby Parker, and wonders if we shouldn't do something about the title. But the majority of versions complain about men; I suspect the Parker text of being a deliberate rewrite. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "Maids When You're Young Never Wed an Old Man"
- cf. "Old Man Came Over the Moor, An (Old Gum Boots and Leggings)"
- cf. "I Wouldn't Marry an Old Man"
Recordings
- Frank Crumit, "Get Away, Old Man, Get Away" (Victor 20137-B, 1926)
- Vernon Dalhart, "Get Away Old Man, Get Away" (Brunswick 123, 1927) (Pathe 32254, 1927) (Columbia 969-D, 1927) (Supertone 9228, 1928) (CYL: Edison [BA] 5321, n.d.)
- Durium Dance Band w. Carson Robison & his Pioneers, "Get Away Old Man" (Durium [UK] EN-25, 1932)
- Arthur Fields, "Get Away Old Man" (Broadway 8049, rec. 1927)
- Mack Brothers, "Get Away, Old Man, Get Away" (Decca 5073, 1935)
- Charlie Newman, "Get Away Old Man, Get Away" (OKeh 45095, 1927)
- Chubby Parker, "Get Away Old Maids, Get Away" (Conqueror 7888, 1931; Montgomery Ward M-4945, 1936; on CrowTold02)
References
- Eddy 135, "I Wouldn't Have an Old Man" (1 text)
- Gardner/Chickering 174, "An Old Man and a Young Man" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Randolph 401, "Stand Back, Old Man, Get Away" (1 text, 1 tune)
- BrownIII 17, "I Wouldn't Marry" (7 text (some short) plus 6 excerpts, 1 fragment, and mention of 5 more, of which "M," "N," and "R" belong here)
- Shellans, pp. 8-9, "Git Away, Old Man" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT, AWAOLDMN*
- Roud #3719
- BI, R401