Gary U.S. BondsĀ  - Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks

First performance: no live dates


Coverinfo

no live dates

Songinfo

'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. '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.
 
 
  

Other cover versions

Bruce on the artist

Bruce on Gary U.S. Bonds :
 
 

Gary U.S.Bonds was one of Bruce’s 25 all time hero’s : RollingStone 
 
"No musician on earth was less cool in 1981 than Gary U.S. Bonds. It had been 20 years since the dance classic "Quarter to Three" fell off the charts and the singer had been largely forgotten. But Bruce Springsteen knew the guy had more life in him, and together with Steve Van Zandt he wrote and produced the LP Dedication for Bonds. It was an amazing labor of love that introduced Bonds to a whole new generation of rock fans. They remain close and in 2012 Bonds sat in with the E Street Band at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium.  "

Bruce helped Gary U.S.Bonds improving his carrier with producing the album "Dedication" and "On the line". 
 
  • Dedication 
An album released by Gary U.S. Bonds in 1981, the first of two on which he collaborated with Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, the second being On the Line, released the following year, 1982. The musicians accompanying Bonds on the album include many members of the E Street Band and the Asbury Jukes.The album includes three songs written by Bruce Springsteen, one written by Steve Van Zandt, and several covers of songs from the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, and others. It also features a duet between Bonds and Springsteen on the track "Jole Blon". Bonds' early 1960s sound had been a major influence on both Springsteen and Van Zandt. The songs written by Springsteen, including the cover of "Jole Blon", were originally intended for his 1980 album, The River, but he felt they fitted better with Bonds and his versions of them have never been released although he has performed most of them live, often featuring Bonds as a special guest. The album produced several singles. The Springsteen-penned "This Little Girl" was a major success. The album was re-released in 1994 on the Razor Edge label of Razor & Tie music, and then again in 2009 on BGO Records, paired with On the Line. In a 2016 career retrospective interview with Pods & Sods, Gary revealed that a few additional songs and outtakes recorded during this time may eventually be released.


  • On the line
On the Line is an album released by Gary U.S. Bonds in 1982, the second of two on which he collaborated with Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, the first being Dedication, released the previous year, 1981. The musicians accompanying Bonds on the album include many members of the E Street Band. The album includes seven songs written by Springsteen, one written by Steven Van Zandt, and two written by Bonds himself . Three other songs were recorded for the album but not present on the final release including Springsteen's "Action In the Street", "Lion's Den", and "Savin' Up". Springsteen's version of "Lion's Den" was eventually released in 1998 on his boxset Tracks and "Savin' Up" appeared on Clarence Clemons' first solo album Rescue (1983); " Springsteen's version of "Rendezvous" was finally released in 1998 on the four-disc box set. 
 
Interview with Gary U.S.Bonds about his autobiography : "That's My Story" by Gary U.S. Bonds and Stephen Cooper. 
 

Lyrics

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...