The Way it Was in ‘51   (Merle Haggard) - STING 21816   (Al Stevens)

 

 (Opener): SIDES FACE GRAND SQUARE:

Sixty-six was still a narrow two-lane highway
Harry Truman was the man who ran the show
The bad Korean war was just beginning
And I was just nine years too young to go
- ALLEMANDE LEFT and WEAVE
Country Music hadn't gone to New York City yet
And a service man was proud of what he'd done
Hank and Lefty crowded every jukebox
That's the way it was in fifty one
 

 

 

 (Figure): HEAD men reach in REVERSE that FLUTTERWHEEL now

Keep that Girl and PROMENADE outside HALFWAY

LEAD to the RIGHT and then you DO SA DO her - TOUCH A QUARTER - SCOOTBACK I say

BOYS FOLD - and the Girls TURN THRU - STAR THRU and PROMENADE her home

Hank and Lefty crowded every jukebox
That's the way it was in fifty one 

 

 (Middle Break & Closer): SIDES FACE GRAND SQUARE

There's so much about the good old days I could tell
And there's folks around I know still remember well

Slow dancin' close together when a ballad played
'Cause a thing called Rock and Roll was yet to come
- ALLEMANDE LEFT and WEAVE
Country Music hadn't gone to New York City yet
And a service man was proud of what he'd done
It was a big year for a drive-in restaurant car hop
That's the way it was in fifty one
 

 

 

 (Tag): It was a big year for a drive-in rest'rant car hop
Oh that's the way it was in fifty one
  

 

 

ORIGINAL LYRICS:

 

Sixty-six was still a narrow two-lane highway
Harry Truman was the man who ran the show
The bad Korean war was just beginning
And I was just three years too young to go

 

Country Music hadn't gone to New York City yet
And a service man was proud of what he'd done
Hank and Lefty crowded every jukebox
That's the way it was in fifty one

 

There's so much about the good old days I'd love to tell
And there's folks around I know still remember well

 

Slow dancin' close together when a ballad played
'Cause a thing called Rock and Roll was yet to come
It was a big year for a drive-in restaurant car hop
That's the way it was in fifty one

 

There's so much about the good old days I'd love to tell
And there's folks around I know still remember well

 

Yeah! Hank and Lefty crowded ev'ry jukebox
Oh Lord, That's the way it was in fifty one