Raisins in My Oatmeal
History
A number of years ago, I was the Recreational Therapy Director at Sherwood Oaks, a retirement community in Cranberry Twp, PA. There was a lovely couple who lived there named John & Muriel Lord.
One month, John had an adorable poem called “Raisins In My Oatmeal” published in the Sherwood Oaks newsletter. Immediately I pictured it as a song. I shared it with Jerry and he got right to work, writing the tune and adapting the lyrics.
There was an employee and resident talent show coming up and I knew it would be the perfect opportunity for that song to have its big debut.
We decided to involve our three boys. We painted a refrigerator box to look like a Quaker Oats box, turned a plastic kiddie pool into a cereal bowl, and wrapped the boys in black plastic bags to look like raisins. They sat in the cereal bowl, bobbing up and down.
Jerry played his guitar as both of us sang the words with enthusiasm. And I’ll never forget the joy on the faces of John & Muriel and their family. That memory is priceless.
Over the years we have performed it mixed in with other songs, but the song can certainly stand on its own.
We hope it makes you smile.
♥Sandi
Lyrics
The milk is skim and like the sky the toast is thin and very dry
The coffee’s black as it can be and there’s no caffeine in it for me
Cholesterol may be my fall, avoid I must the rays of Sol
The wine stays in the bottle tall and booze for me is not at all
But I can have raisins in my oatmeal now and then
Raisins in my oatmeal now and then
I must be careful what I put in my mouth
Or my colon might go south
But I’ll have raisins in my oatmeal now and then
My soda pop is sugar-free and I must count each calorie
Still the salt stays in the shaker and fresh donuts at the baker
Trifocals blur my vision and wax plugs up my ears
And the only thing I don’t forget is how to shift the gears
But I remember raisins in my oatmeal now and then
Raisins in my oatmeal now and then
I may not hear or see too well
But when it comes to breakfast you might as well
And put raisins in my oatmeal now and then
Young women I’m permitted to pursue but I must be careful not to catch them
Because for the life of me I don’t remember what to do
Three score and ten the Good Book says is a man’s allotted life
Of these I’ve spent two score and more with one beloved wife
And she still puts raisins in my oatmeal now and then
Raisins in my oatmeal now and then
I guess I have a pretty good life
Because I have a loving wife
Who puts raisins in my oatmeal now and then
She puts raisins in my oatmeal now and then
Raisins in my oatmeal now and then
Raisins in my oatmeal now and
A good source of fiber, put nine or ten
Of those juicy raisins in your oatmeal now and then