HOUSECALLS
Words and Music By Sis Cunningham (Used with permission)

Vocals: Sis Cunningham
12-string Guitar & Banjo: Eric Levine

The saga of the downfall of modern medicine from the point of view of older Americans who remember the old M.D. who cared and made housecalls.

Back in the old days we had a country doctor
A general practitioner he was called
He doctored folks for chilblains, for stomach aches, and labor pains
He doctored summer, winter, spring and fall
We'd call him on the party line, he'd crank up his jitney
And come rattling down the dusty country lane
When he opened up his little black bag out came the magic
To staunch the wounds and banish the pain

CHORUS:
Housecalls, good old housecalls
That's the way things were meant to be
Housecalls, good old housecalls
Doctor, oh doctor, come to me

Nowadays when I'm ailing I call the doctor's office
They say he's on leave till next July
Or they say the doctor's busy
Would you please call back on Tuesday
And I think nobody cares if I die
So I'm staggering out the door, and I'm stumbling up the street
I don't know if I can make it at all
When I get to emergency, I start to count the hours
Waiting for my number to be called

I had a little accident and landed in the hospital
A resident team was touring my floor
I said, "Doctors, could I ask you something,
Just a little question?"
But they'd already vanished out the door
Today it seems they have a different doctor
For every little thing that goes wrong
If whatever's ailing me is not within their speciality
It's "Sorry, good luck and so long."

CHORUS:
Housecalls, good old housecalls
That's the way things were meant to be
Housecalls, good old housecalls
Doctor, oh doctor, come to me

In modern times your chances for longevity are greater
No matter the condition of your health
But you'd better have the do re mi
To pay for new technology
Survival may depend upon your wealth
But who wants to live to be ninety or a hundred
To muddle through these bitter senior years
Without that good old doctor to come to your bedside
And staunch your wounds and banish your fears

The papers have reported a new and welcome practice
Of a number of our good psychiatrists
They've agreed to make a housecall
If the can be convinced
That a reasonable emergency exists
This should ease our worries and give us some comfort
But permit me to tell you what I think:
If GP's would make housecalls whenever they are needed
I don't believe I'd ever need a shrink

CHORUS:
Housecalls, good old housecalls
That's the way things were meant to be
Housecalls, good old housecalls
Doctor, oh doctor, come to me