The Last Of The Old Folk Rockers … by Bob Crain

Here is a song from the Bob Crain LIVE performance called The Last Of The Old Folk Rockers … and I hope this will not be the last requiem played at the funeral of the last folk rock artist or song.

It is going to be a sad day when all the real Folk Rockers retire and the hard core, socially conscious, meaningful song writing that dominated the music scene back in the ’60s and ’70s slides in to the archives of music history.

Oh there are still a few of the icons of Folk Rock still writing Jackson Browne, Neil Young, Dylan, Springsteen, and a few others that rose through the ranks in those old heady days that keep the fires burning … like myself. While mangers, promoters, recording executives and marketers try to pass off what is basically commercial pop as “folk rock”, being young, cute and playing an acoustic guitar does not qualify one as a Folk Rocker … it about the songwriting … not the presentation or the package. If you aren’t delivering some kind of relevant message to your audience (whether they are listening or not) or asking them to think or raising awareness of something then really its just another song be it country, pop, rock or blues … it can’t be qualified with “folk”  … the “folk” is the message the rock is just the delivery vehicle.

Think of the songs we wouldn’t have if it were not for the merging of folk and rock …. For What It’s Worth, Ohio, The Pretender, Truckin’, Hotel California, Captain Jack, Big Yellow Taxi, Hurricane … I hate to think of what level of consciousness might exist (if any) if we didn’t have these gems … and so many more.

Maybe people today just don’t want to hear the message so it gets turned off or music is now a competition sport that is all about presentation, marketing, views and likes but if art is not delivering a message then what is it doing? Like some old Folk Rocker once said “sometimes you have to play what they need to hear”.

And HERE is a different take on the song performed live by Folk In The Road @ The Catfish

The Last Of The Old Folk Rockers

Like the last of the red hot lovers they made their way up on the stage

The last of the old folk rockers like something from the stoned age

They hail from a time when music well it was not a completion sport

Stepped up to the mic guitar in hand no need for an escort

They sang it out loud and clear there was a message in the air

They did it with class stood up and played no make up no flair

They brought the crowd to their feet though they’d heard them all before

Oh those songs they sang so true and the crowd called for more

Like the last of the red hot lovers they displayed their love on stage

The last of the old folk rockers like something from the stoned age

Oh yes my young friend those were the days when the folk rockers owned the stage

They led from the front its different today sit back and hear them old folk rockers play

They played from the heart and sang from the soul they had something to say

They came to the stage Martin in hand sang about the people land and war

Them old folk rockers didn’t pull any punches just laid it all out no need for hunches

Lord knows its good to see them back maybe they can help get us on the right track

Like the last of the red hot lovers they left their heart out on the stage

The last of the old folk rockers like something from the stoned age

When the last of the old folk rockers finally leave the stage end of an era end of an age

They helped keep us in check in those old heady days those old folk rockers up on the stage

Probably need them now more than ever help lead the way out of this skid

That old folk rock music well it was fun while it lasted sit back my son and hear the last passage

The last song has been played message relayed nothing left but the encore today

When the last of the old folk rockers finally leave the stage       the end of an era end of an age