Home » Poems » L Milton Hankins » Golden Oldies

Golden Oldies

The mellow sounds
of Lawrence Welk
are gone,
Guy Lombardo, too.
I remember when
Johnny Mercer
wrote the hits
and Dinah Shore
sang them true.
Do these names 
mean nothing
to you…perhaps
The Beatles are
your cup of tea?
Then think, my friend,
and be not dismayed
for you are nearly
as old as me!

Written July 15, 2021

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Sara Kendrick

Date: 7/20/2021 4:05:00 AM

I like so many oldies. My brother who was 25 years older than me kind of introduced me to some from his generation and I liked them so I am a duke's mixture of favs. I like this winner as well. You did a good job with using those names. Congrats. Sara

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/20/2021 8:07:00 AM

Thank you, Sara, for your warm and thoughtful remarks.

Christuraj Alex

Date: 7/18/2021 11:55:00 PM

Need for change together with maintaining the goodness of old. A beautiful write. Congratulations!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/19/2021 9:05:00 AM

Thank you so much, Christuraj, for your thoughtful input.

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 7/16/2021 7:17:00 AM

Ah, I can relate to this all so well. Remember Dinah Shore singing "See the USA in a Chevrolet?" and the Lennon sisters and Little Brown Jug? I can age myself, and do gladly!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/16/2021 8:29:00 AM

Gosh, I wonder what happened to the Lennon Sisters???

Kim Merryman

Date: 7/15/2021 6:56:00 PM

I recognize all the names but don't recall the songs they were known for. When I was a youngster my siblings and I spent just about every weekend with our grandparents, which meant every Saturday night we had to watch Lawrence Welk. My grandma liked the music and dancing and my grandpa liked watching the pretty girls. Blessings, Kim M

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/15/2021 7:13:00 PM

Yes, Kim, it was a favorite for older folks on Saturday night. I remember it quite well. Thanks for your thoughtful comment.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 7/15/2021 6:19:00 PM

See the USA in your Chevrolet! Dinah sure sounds quaint if you revisit that one... At any rate, Guy Lombardo was a bit before my time, but not Lawrence Welk and his champagne bubbles. lol... and then there was Spike Jones, taking a wrecking ball to the opera, 'Carmen.' Actually, my favorite, believe it or not, was Sammy Davis -- for all around musical talent: Singing, Dancing, Instrumentation. What a guy! ~ gw

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/15/2021 7:18:00 PM

Yes, I would agree with you, gw. I still love "Candy Man" and I've been know to give it a try at karaoke. Yep, I have. Thanks, Gershon, for your thoughts.

Shirley Hawkins

Date: 7/15/2021 5:59:00 PM

The Beatles still seem new to me as time speeds up when your 83, 84 is just weeks away My 83rd birthday feels like yesterday. I remember the old songs. when everybody sang along, It makes me sad to say, I don't understand the noise today. Words I've never heard before Gestures, banging heads galore. Instruments being broken on stage Audience screaming as if enraged Harmony, I think not, Is it them or me that's lost the plot....

Rico Leffanta
Date: 7/16/2021 11:35:00 AM

I have not listened to "pop" music since I retired to Hawai'i in 1992. Tahitian drums can move me, but the sound of violins is still my preference .......

L Milton Hankins
Date: 7/15/2021 7:20:00 PM

I think you are fine, Shirley, because I, too, have great difficulty even listening to a song or two from the present. Some of the country songs are comprehensible (?) but most of the more recent rock stuff just has no melody and no meaning. Thanks for your input.