IF THEY WERE ANIMALS by Doc Mustard

A song primarily about old folks' nursing homes though the opening footage is of my father in hospital a few months before he died after being finally moved into a nursing home. As you can see from the cracks in the wall and blistered paintwork, the hospital ward he stayed in was in dire need of attention.
The activities within old people's residential homes needs improving. I know of one home that hires a singer to entertain it's inmates......four times a year !!!! I didn't get the job but I do occasionally sing in such establishments which inspired me to write his song based on my experience.
Here are the lyrics:

She sits in her chair waving her arms
Head rocking to and fro
She's got tubes round her neck, tubes up her nose
Attached to a life saving gizmo

There's an old girl who clearly can't look after herself
Always calling for help to take her down off the shelf
While the other inmates have to sit and listen
'Cos they can't get up to walk out of nightmare prison

You can see a brave face on these abandoned old folks
bundled together in the final hoax
Care in the community's a flipping joke
If they were animals you'd put most of 'em down

It's not like the hotel they stayed at every year
With entertainment each night, cocktails and beer
It's just an institution, the last stop saloon
The beer's all run dry doom and gloom

These are the unlucky ones I get to see
There are others confined to their dormitory
The only way out is in a plywood coffin
But they're worth more alive because their rent is astonishing

You can see a brave face on these abandoned old folks
bundled together in the final hoax
Care in the community's a flipping joke
If they were animals you'd put most of 'em down

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Thrive
• Prizoner
• Doc
• Mustard
• Penzance
• Help
• the
• aged
• controversial
• nursing
• homes
• Long
• Rock
• Mousehole
• Poltair
• Claire
• Fox
• nancledra
• porthminster
• gwithian
• rosudgeon
• goldsithney
• buryan
• newlyn
• porthcurno
• minack
• zennor
• gaga

[ThePinkBinks]

I'll be passing this on. I'm all 4 being able 2 choose euthanasia as I may well need it myself- as certain members of my family already do need the choice available. Ur very right that terminally ill people are treated worse than animals so healthy uncaring people can make money out of them instead of giving them the mercy & kindness they want/need. Sometimes we really do have far less rights than animals- & we ARE animals ourselves!

[adjuk]

This is a powerful video and well made and makes a few important points that people won't normally go near in music videos.

Well done and thanks for making us think!

[roxyrainbow]

I took care of my parents for the past few years. but for 3 years it was $11,000 per month and for 3 years it was $7,000 per month, when they were in a nursing home. I wish I could have convinced them to move in with me earlier. But we had a great time together. they were 92 and 97 and were together for 75 years. And they really didn't want to be here anymore. So I always brought great food every day. I miss them very much. Bee Hive Homes (franchise) is a very good home!

[inregionecaecorum]

It'll be me and thee one of these days, and Marcus isn't looking any younger either.

[No1barney1]

Powerful song.

I'm concerned about the rise in these "homes" too. Attracts carpetbaggers who see a way to make a quick buck. Had the misfortune to visit a relative about 10 yrs ago in one & it left a lot to be desired. Then it was about £400 p wk, must be a lot more now!

Good point that they're worth more alive!

Ppl deserve better.

[soundlessexit]

I was captivated by your film, well done for having the patience to make it and to make a very important point in an original way. Hoorah!

[christophersidwell]

At last - one for the oldsters (like myself!)