Ninety and Still Dancing

Hang the cane on the chair, old timer The horns are calling you You learned to dance when the radio was furniture Held her through the hard years on a kitchen floor Ninety springs, two careers, a war you never mention And the band strikes up — and you're seventeen again The doctors said slow down You said, son, the music's still playing Ninety and still dancing — look at you go First one on the floor and the last to let it close The whole long century couldn't slow those shoes Ninety and still dancing And the floor still clears for you You taught the grandkids box steps with the dish towel for a partner Counted one-two-three until they had it right Now they're spinning past you on the boards you broke in Clapping out the rhythm of your years The doctors said slow down You said, son, the music's still playing Ninety and still dancing — look at you go First one on the floor and the last to let it close The whole long century couldn't slow those shoes Ninety and still dancing And the floor still clears for you Ninety years of mornings, and you got up for every one Some with her, some after — and you kept the music on That's the lesson, isn't it? Keep the music on Ninety and still dancing — look at you go First one on the floor and the last to let it close The whole long century couldn't slow those shoes Ninety and still dancing And the floor still clears for you One more number, bandleader The birthday boy's not done