Album version
Come on!
You gotta get up pretty early in the morning, babe
If you think you can just up and out-slick me
Cause I've been fooled by the best
BS-ed by the rest
I've tried everything there is in life from A to Z
I've dined with friends in high places
Slept with girls of all races
Got down with the brothers in the bowery
And they all taught me one thing
There's no such thing as a sure thing
Life as we know it has no guarantees
I've been in the battles
Taken my licks
Had lots of parties
Had all the kicks
I'm not often well
But, I ain't never been sick
Oh, can't teach an old dog new tricks
Can't teach an old dog new tricks
Come on!
People talk and make promises 'bout this and that
But action's the only thing that excites me
All those promises they're making
I'd be crazy if I take 'em
I'd keep them stored up in my memory
I'm just living in a world where society
And what people say and do
No longer interests me
I'm just living out my days
Set in my ways
Living for my friends and my family
Well, I've lived in the city
I ain't what you call slick
Grew up in the country
But don't call me no hick
I've been through the thin, I've been through the thick
So you can't teach an old dog new tricks
Can't teach an old dog new tricks
Come on!
Well, I've been in the battles
Taken my licks
Had lots of parties
Had all the kicks
I'm not often well
But I ain't never been sick
So, you can't teach an old dog new tricks
Can't teach an old dog new tricks
Seems like everybody knows how things should be
Yeah, they've all got their stories they can't wait to tell
I've got my own way of being who I wanna be
I can't live my life for no one else
I keep my mind wide open
To what you gotta say
Lord, I ain't always right
But I know when you're wrong
'Cause I've been doing it too doggone long
You can sing it if you wanna
But it's still my doggone song
You can't teach an old dog new tricks
Can't teach an old dog new tricks
Can't teach an old dog new tricks
Can't teach an old dog new tricks
(Oh, no, no, no)
Can't teach an old dog new tricks
(You just can't do it now)
Can't teach an old dog new tricks
(No, you can't do it)
Can't teach an old dog new tricks
(You just can't do it now)
(No, no you)
Can't teach a
Can't teach a
No, you can't teach a
Can't teach a
(Whoah, whoah, whoah)
Can't teach a
Can't teach a
(No, no, no)
(Come on, Bondsie!)
Oh you can't teach an old dog new tricks
Can't teach an old dog new tricks
Can't teach an...
CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS is a song written by Gary U.S. Bonds and Laurie Anderson and released by Gary U.S. Bonds on his 2004 album Back In 20. This was Bonds' first studio album in 20 years. The above lyrics are for Gary U.S. Bonds' album version of CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS as released on Back In 20
CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS was recorded in February 2004 at Thrill Hill Recording (Bruce Springsteen's home studio) in Rumson, NJ. It features Springsteen on guitar and backup vocals. He can be heard intermittently throughout the song and he shouts "Come on, Bondsie!" towards the end. The song also features Southside Johnny on harmonica. Southside Johnny also appears on two more tracks from the album.
As far as it's known, Bruce Springsteen has never performed CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS live.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics and info help.
List of available versions of CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS on this website:
CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS [Album version]