Grumpy Old Men Songs #1

This series is not replacing Mid-Life Crisis Songs: it's designed to run alongside it. You may argue that I'm too young to qualify as a Grumpy Old Man, but I would counter thus:

1) Most of the artists I grew up with, being considerably older than me, definitely fit that category now, and this is designed to celebrate them.

2) Almost thirty years ago, when I'd just started the Sixth Form, doing my A Levels, my nickname was "Victor Meldrew"... so I have always been a GOM at heart.


1. John Mellencamp - Sad Clowns

A recent post over at The Vinyl Villain (of all places!) reminded me how much I love John Mellencamp. I thought about doing a series just about him, celebrating all the great songs nobody knows from him... but I thought that might be self-indulgent (like that's ever stopped me). I got into him as a teenager and though we lost touch a little in the noughties, he's always been there for me.

This is from his most recent (23rd!) studio album, released about a year ago. As grumpy old men go, it's pretty mild. Don't worry - they'll get grumpier!

Well, I don't wait on women

I don't open doors

I'm not much of a gentleman

And by the way, I keep score

So if you are thinking

You're sitting on top of the world with me

Baby, you'd better think again

I don't care for girls

Who give compliments to themselves

How glamorous they are

And how they're really something else

I've been taken in

By women like that before

So baby, you'd better think again

I could be more accommodating

But somehow it's lost on me

And all this useless talking

About how it's going to be

I'll come along for the ride

And this sad clown company

Hey baby, you'd better think again

No video available, so here's a link...

John Mellencamp - Sad Clowns