Monday, August 30, 2021

Too Old to Cut the Mustard

 I'm doing this entry especially for one of my Arkansas friends.  She asked in a comment what the saying "too old to cut the mustard" means.  

I think the lyrics of a song from 1951 say it all.  The last verse was my father's favorite one.

Too Old To Cut the Mustard, sung by Earnest Tubb and Red Foley

Too old, too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore
He's gettin' too old, he's done got too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore
When I was young, I had a lotta pep
I could get around, didn't need no help
But now you're old and a gettin' gray
The people all look at you and say
Too old, too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore
He's gettin' too old, he's done got too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore
I used to, could jump just like a deer
But now you need a new landing gear
I used to, could jump a picket fence
But now you're lucky if you jump an inch
Too old, too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore
He's gettin' too old, he's done got too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore
When I was young, I had an automobile
Now they push you around in a chair with wheels
I had to fight the gals off with a stick
But now they say he makes me sick
Too old, too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore
He's gettin' too old, he's done got too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore
When I was young and in my prime
The gals all used to stand in line
But now they go the other way
And as they leave, I hear them say
Too old, too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore
He's gettin' too old, he's done got too old
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore
He's too old to cut the mustard anymore

If you can stand to read the corny lyrics , perhaps you're brave enough to listen to the song.

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10 comments:

  1. I haven't been able to "cut the mustard" on quite a few things in the last 5 years or so. *haha* I don't think it's going to do me any good to fret about it either. ~Andrea xoxoxo

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  2. One of my favorite old songs. I think you can extrapolate from this that anybody that's literally cut or picked mustard greens knows that it's backbreaking work, especially if you're picking a large amount. I know I can't pick greens anymore because it's too hard on my knees. I remember Bill Carlisle's version of this too.

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    1. I about killed my knees this year picking green beans and setting out strawberry plants. I wondered how I'd pick the strawberries next year if it was that hard to set out plants; then I decided I'd just take an old metal stool out, set it anywhere I wanted to pick berries, and move it around when I was done with a spot. Yes, I'd smash some berries, but I can afford to lose a few.

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    2. Also... I never thought about the mustard you grow. I pictured mustard in a jar! Your theory makes sense!

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  3. It's an odd saying but like many others, I accepted it without thinking about its origins.

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  4. Thank you. I knew you’d know just like Sister Patsy knew everything.

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    Replies
    1. I always wished I could sit down and converse face to face with Patsy.

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  5. I was thinking old yellow in a jar also but not being able to cut mustard greens makes pretty good sense.

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  6. I've done and got to old to cut the mustard anymore. So true, I can't do what I used to.

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  7. I relate to that! I am too old to cut the mustard too.

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