John Hiatt
Lyric guide

Old Days

Read Old Days lyrics by John Hiatt on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

John Hiatt visibility1 visits
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot

The page facts to cite before the commentary

Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.

Page type: lyric reference Artist: John Hiatt Canonical path: /john-hiatt/old-days Related lyric paths: 6
Lyrics

Old Days

The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.

I was sittin’ in the dressing room with Brownie Mcgee

He was drinkin' that milk with that Dewar's Whiskey

Said John, there's nothin' written anywhere

Suggests the blues will set you free

Old days are comin' back to me

I was ridin' in the back seat, with Sonny Terry

Little harmonica player used to drive him around

I think his name was Harry

Tried to get him to eat tofu, raw vegetables, nuts, and berries

But Sonny wasn't havin' any of it

He let me share a room with 'em for a couple of weeks

Sonny slept with his good eye open staring out from under the sheets

I was young and uncomfortable

I don't mind tellin' ya, kinda gave me the creeps

Old days are comin' back to me

Old days are comin' back to me

Don't know what was so good about 'em

I played practically free

I had nothin' to live up to

Everywhere to be

Old days are comin' back to me

On some dates with Mose Allison somewhere out in the Midwest

Said some of my lyrics reminded him of the poet Kenneth Patchen

I took it as a compliment

He was referring to the line about wearin' neon signs on your wounds

Later on, I knew what he meant

Old days are comin' back to me

On a date with John Lee Hooker

At a packed joint up in Washington

He came in with a gorgeous woman on each arm

As I was singing my song

Walked 'em right up and sat 'em

On the edge of the stage as I went singing along

And that's called: Evenin' son, I'm the headliner

Old days are comin' back to me

Don't know what was so good about 'em

I played practically free

But I had nothin' to live up to

And everywhere to be

Old days are comin' back to me

Played a gig with John Hammond Jr. Up in Vancouver BC

Exotic dancer came in my dressing room, started dancing exotically

They were smoking something in the audience that night

Smelled exactly like cat pee

Old days are comin' back to me

Opened up a gig for Gatemouth Brown down in Baton Rouge

He was playing that Hillbilly, Jazz, Cajun, Country Zydeco, and Blues

Throwin' it out past the walls like some kind of musical centrifuge

Old days are comin' back to me

Old days are comin' back to me

I don't know what was so good about 'em

I played practically free

But I had nothin' to live up to

Everywhere to be

Old days are comin' back to me

Old days are comin' back to me

I don't know what was so good about 'em

I played practically free

But I had nothin' to live up to

Everywhere to be

Old days are comin' back to me

Old days are comin' back to me

Quick answers

What this page can answer fast

Who performs "Old Days"?

John Hiatt performs "Old Days", and this lyric page sits inside the John Hiatt catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "Old Days"?

Yes. The related section below points to 'Til I Get My Lovin' Back and (No More) Dancing In The Street with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by John Hiatt?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through John Hiatt's lyric pages.

Song Room

Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song

Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.

Open Song Room
0 followers Selected insights only surface after moderation
Listener comments

What people are saying

0 comments
Add a short interpretation or memory

A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.

Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.

No listener comments on Old Days yet.