Nursing/Retirement home songs

[Slothead56]

I know a lot of folks on here play for Nursing/Retirement Home residents from time to time. With retirement approaching I’ve been thinking of volunteering to do some of this.

What songs are you playing to thre older crowd? Guessing my current set lists are probably a bit out of bounds.

Thanks!

[29er]

In not too many years nursing home tunes my have to include classic rock material

[Big Band Guitar]

You could do Willie Nelsons "I woke up still not dead again today".

[Methos1979]

Here's our current set list from which we select enough songs to fill an hour - updated to add new songs plus who does them:

I Saw Her Standing There - Beatles
You Are My Sunshine - Traditional
Splish Splash - Bobby Darin
The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Astaire
Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations
Fever - Peggy Lee
Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets
Stupid Cupid - Connie Francis
Knock Three Times - Tony Orlando & Dawn
Bye Bye Love - The Everly Brothers
Rockin' Robin - Bobby Day
Blue Suede Shoes - Elvis
Wake Up Little Susie - The Everly Brothers
Dream Lover - Bobby Day
Only You - The Platters
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles
Walkin' After Midnight - Patsy Cline
My Girl - The Temptations
Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis
On The Road Again - Willie Nelson
Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Old Oak Tree - Tony Orlando & Dawn
Ain't That A Shame - Fats Domino
I'm Walkin' - Fats Domino
Love Letters In The Sand - Pat Boone
The Great Pretender - The Platters
That'll Be The Day - Buddy Holly
These Boots Are Made For Walking - Nancy Sinatra
Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland
Dream A Little Dream Of Me - The Mamas & The Papas
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
Your Cheatin' Heart - Patsy Cline
Big Spender - Peggy Lee
Wake Up Little Susie - The Everly Brothers
Moon River - Audrey Hepburn
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
Runaway - Del Shannon
Top Of The World - The Carpenters
Forever Young - Audra Mae version
Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley
Gentle On My Mind - Glen Campbell
Crazy - Patsy Cline
Take Me Home Country Roads - John Denver
I Fall To Pieces - Patsy Cline
King Of The Road - Roger Miller
Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
All Shook up - Elvis Presley
Hit The Road Jack - Ray Charles
My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli
Feeling Good/Put A Spell On You - Nina Simone
Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson
Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli
Stand By Me - Ben E. King
Danny Boy - Danny Thomas
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling - Traditional

[Jim Comeaux]

Over the Hill to The Poorhouse
The Old Home Place

[Bob from Brooklyn]

Stairway to Heaven will get you thrown out of there too!

[wguitar]

Originally Posted by Methos1979

Here's our current set list from which we select enough songs to fill an hour:

Splish Splash
Build Me Up Buttercup
Fever
Rock Around The Clock
The Great Pretender
That'll Be The Day
These Boots Are Made For Walking
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Dream A Little Dream Of Me
Sweet Caroline
Your Cheating Heart
Hit The Road Jack
Big Spender
Wake Up Little Susie
My Eyes Adored You
Stand By Me
Folsom Prison Blues
Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Runaway
Top Of The World
Can't Help Falling In Love
Crazy
Take Me Home Country Roads
Feeling Good/Put A Spell On You
I Fall To Pieces
King Of The Road
Jailhouse Rock
Fly Me To The Moon
What A Wonderful World
All Shook up

Great list! 1950's and 60's in general, with a smattering of pre-1950's. Hello Dolly always gets a good reception. And God Bless America is always a great closer!

[ntotoro]

He Stopped Loving Her Today.. ?

Nearer, My God, to Thee... ?

[bufflehead]

Everly Brothers songs work great.
*** All I have to do is dream
*** Devoted to you
*** Wake up little Suzie

[zeeway]

We play a lot of gospel tunes, and they go over well. Generally the folks want to hear the songs they grew up with, either in church or on the radio. So, if they are in their 80’s, any popular song from mid fifties to mid sixties will work. We still try to stay away from downer songs.

[Martyn Eden]

I'll Never Get Out Of This world Alive.

Hank Williams.

[Methos1979]

Originally Posted by wguitar

Great list! 1950's and 60's in general, with a smattering of pre-1950's. Hello Dolly always gets a good reception. And God Bless America is always a great closer!

Thanks. We agree. With the average age of the facilities we play running from the mid-70s to 90s, songs from the 50s and 60s are right in their wheelhouse. We got a few comments from activities directors that said we 'don't play the usual' songs that a lot of people play and it was 'refreshing'. But the biggest compliment is when a resident comes up after we play and they say that they have CD's they listen to that have every song we play. And every show we play we have several that tear up on certain songs.

[The Bard Rocks]

How about "Get Up & Go"? ("My get up and go has got up and went...")

[shekie]

The setlist for the last gig we did at a senior center in early December:

Worried Man
Hey Good Lookin'
Kansas City
You Are My Sunshine
Stand By Me
This Land Is Your Land
Nowhere Man
Folsom Prison Blues
Wild Rover
Blowin' In the Wind
Your Cheatin' Heart
I Saw the Light
Lean On Me
Summertime
Georgia On My Mind
Jingle Bell Rock

[Mandobart]

Recalling the "how old are we?" thread, most of us are pretty much old-fart-home fodder ourselves. You can call it a "gig" but I know you old fossils are casing the rest homes for your not-so-distant-future temporary address.

So, pretty much whatever you like is probably what all the other old timers like, too.

We play bluegrass and classic C&W when we play there.