Free

I was in Port Townsend, Washington and passed a little bookstore.  On the door was a sign that read “Under Old Management”.   I wonder if the store is still there . . . under new management or old. 
 
This was yet another project that was a blast to record!  It was Jim Robeson’s idea to add a fiddle to this song and also his idea to call Ron Stewart who had been good enough to work with me many years ago.  I listed Ron’s bona fides on the page for <a href="http://theprimecutts.com/ramblin_man/">Ramblin’ Man </a>(Countryish).
 
© 1999 Steven E. Cutts recorded August 7, 2013 at Bias Studios (recorded and mixed by Jim Robeson)
 
<ul>
<li>Steve, acoustic guitar and vocal</li>
<li>Rob Bartley, drums</li>
<li>Jim Robeson, bass</li>
<li>Ron Stewart, fiddle</li>
</ul>

Lyrics

I’m under old management; nothing much has changed !
I’ve made no renovations; couldn’t think of innovations for me.
No strategy to implement; nothing ventured, nothing strained.
Fads and fashions come and go; I loved the status quo the way it used to be.
 
I am no less blunt; no more open minded;
No less compulsive; no more enlightened;
No less stubborn; no more exciting than I ever was in the past.
 
I’m sticking to the way it’s been; it takes a certain discipline,
But it’s brought me through thick and thin.
I’m under old management.
 
I’m under old management; nothing much has changed !
I have no plans to restructure, to remodel or reorganize.
In fact, I’m feeling obstinate; I’ve got it arranged
To just stay the way I am; I swear I won’t apologize.
 
So don’t try to fax me; don’t send me email. 
I don’t go to Starbucks; I don’t care what’s upscale.
I don’t want to work out and don’t plan to eat well; I never did in the past !
 
I still prefer a rotary phone; I drink my coffee out of Styrofoam;
You can carve it on my gravestone :
“He was under old management.”
 
I’m no more observant; no less agnostic;
No more sensitive; no less caustic;
No more stable and no less psychotic than I ever was in the past.
 
What you see ‘s no accident; I’m not tempted to experiment.
Complain to your heart’s content,
but it’s the same old management.
 
It’s the same old, same old, same old management.

The Prime Cutts

Lyrics