Song Lyrics That Need to Be Explained To Young People

I saw him standing there by the record machine.

"Our future babies we'll take to Abie's Irish Rose/I hope they'll live to see it close" (Manhattan)

("Young people" meaning "people under 100" in this case.)

"You're the nose/of the great Durante" (You're the Top)

Mama's Got a Squeezebox/Daddy Never Sleeps at night

"Don't need my raccoon, 'cause everything's fine..." / There's Frost on the Moon

This just happened at Thanksgiving. My niece asked "did she just say RACCOON?"

"Saw him standin' there by the record machine"

"I met him at the candy store"

From "Fascinating Rhythm" by the Gershwin brothers:

What a mess you're making

The neighbors want to know

Why I'm always shaking

Just like a flivver

I doubt if many people today know that a flivver was an old beat-up car. Presumably "young people" can use Google although you'd never know it by the tedious "Eldergays tell me about..." thread titles.

Wow you guys really have your finger on the pulse of pop culture.

Young people today are always rocking out to "You're the Top" and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," so they will be grateful for these explanations!

R9 "You make the sun shine brighter than Doris Day" (Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go)

Explain

Geek in the pink - Jason Mraz

"You got the gold mine, I got the shaft"

"I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter."

So, did he see her not?

"I saw her walking on down the line. You know I saw her for the very first time. A pretty little girl standing all alone. Hey baby, can I take you home? I never saw her, never really saw her."

Like a virgin, touched for the very first time!

by some crazy old singer named Madusa, I think she is STILL alive.

Mr. Telephone Man

There's something wrong with my line

When I dial my baby's number

I get a click every time ...

This was by New Edition, back when telephones were connected by cords and wires. If something was malfunctioning with that, impeding communication, you had to call for the telephone man to come over, inspect for the cause, then repair it.

How about a song TITLE: "BEechwood 4-5789"

I been watchin' you boy!

And I got what you want, got what you need!

Though your girlfriends' a friend of mine

Here's my number and a dime

call me - anytime

"I may not be there when you want me but I'm right on time!"

20-something here who understands all the references listed by OP. But you're right, the young'uns would need pretty much every old song/standard deciphered. "You're the Top" especially, [R3]

A kiss may be grand

but it won't pay the rental on your humble flat

Or help you at [bold]the automat[/bold]

Jim Croce's -- Operator

especially the last line, "you can keep the dime"

Take the last train to Clarksville,

Now I must hang up the phone.

I can't hear you in this noisy

Railroad station all alone.

I'm feelin' low. Oh, no, no, no!

Oh, no, no, no!

And I don't know if I'm ever coming home.

Folks around these parts get the time of day

From The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe

At Wanamaker's and Saks and Klein's

A lesson I've been taught

You can't get alterations on a dress you haven't bought

("Marry the Man Today" - Guys and Dolls)

"I,

I,

I,

I,

I,

I,

Ain't gonna play Sun City!"

No, they really don't OP. Young people can look it up.

Not on lyrics freak, though.

It's not a cobweb afternoon but a cold, wet afternoon.

Losers

Marry me, R26!

Please, Mr., please, don't play B-17

Free Nelson Mandela.

You guys are delusional if you think any young people would willingly listen to any of these songs.

"Ooooooaaaaaaaawaaaaaaaaaaa howllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll KYYYYYYYOOOOOOKOHHHHHH wakakakakaka ralf ralf ralf ralf uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"

Every nine out of ten songs by Yoko Ono.