Gary U.S. Bonds: Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks

(G. Bonds, L. Anderson) Bonds Anderson Music (BMI)

VERSE 1:
YOU GOTTA GET UP PRETTY EARLY IN THE MORNING, BABY
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
GOTTEN 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

TURNAROUND:
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

CHORUS:
SO, YOU CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS
CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS

VERSE 2:
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 KEEP THEM STORED UP IN MY MEMORY
I'M JUST LIVING IN A WORLD WHERE SOCIETY
AND WHAT PEOPLE SAY AND DO
NO LONGER INTEREST ME
I'M JUST LIVING OUT MY DAYS
SET IN MY WAYS
LIVING FOR MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY

TURNAROUND:
WELL, I'VE LIVED IN THE CITY
BUT, 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
AND I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE THICK

CHORUS:
SO, YOU CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS
CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS

*SOLO

TURNAROUND:
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

CHORUS:
NO, YOU CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS
CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS

BREAKDOWN:
SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW THINGS SHOULD BE
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
I AIN'T ALWAYS RIGHT
BUT, I KNOW WHEN YOU'RE WRONG
CAUSE I'VE BEEN DOING THIS TOO DOGGONE LONG
YOU CAN SING IT IF YOU WANNA
BUT, IT'S STILL MY DOGGONE SONG

TAG ON OUT:
NO, YOU CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS
CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS