Don't Have a Clue

[snopes]

Kids today don't have a clue
Where to go or what to do
We knew full well when we were young
Where to go to have some fun

A shiny quarter could buy delight
The friends we had without a fight
The days we talked till after dark
The things we learned to make our mark

A mitt and ball would sure suffice
Ice cube trays with Kool-Aid ice
We played real hard with cuts and bruises
A comic book could sure amuse us

A spinning top was such a thrill
To ride our bikes down the steepest hills
A bag of marbles could calm for hours
Paper Mache to make Mom flowers

Worn sneakers with broken laces
Dirt and grime on our tanned faces
Empty pockets and tattered jeans
Lux in a Maytag could make things clean

You never knew the time of day
From dawn to dusk you'd run and play
You never questioned our parents reason
Summertime was our favorite season

Wonder bread with fried bologna
Wednesday night was macaroni
Those wonderful days that flew so fast
Those magical times will always last

[Saint James]

A bit weak on the rhyme scheme at points.
And I don't see one toy in there which doesn't still exist or get played with.

[Ryda Wong, EBfCo.]

Wonder bread with fried bologna
Wednesday night was macaroni
Those wonderful days that flew so fast
Those magical times will always last

Well, yeah, until you die as a result of your early malnutrition!

Although I do love a fried bologna sandwich to this very day.

Yum.

[snopes]

Worn sneakers with broken laces
Dirt and grime on our tanned faces
Empty pockets and tattered jeans

Yeah, I long for a return to the good old days when everybody was poor, nobody could afford to replace worn clothing, and kids never had any money of their own.

- snopes

[Chloe]

Meh. Meter a bit dubious, and nowhere near hateful and condemnatory enough. Perhaps a final stanza as follows?

But kids today are rotten sods
They roam about in hoodie squads.
Our streets they spoil, our towns besmirch
It's time that we brought back the birch.

[DemonWolf]

Originally Posted by snopes

Yeah, I long for a return to the good old days when everybody was poor, nobody could afford to replace worn clothing, and kids never had any money of their own.

- snopes

In my case it was because of rough treatment and intense physical activity. New jeans would only last me about three months, and those were usually the better brands (Lee, Levi, Wrangler)

Going out to play at the crack of dawn
Coming in when the streetlights come on
Coming home to watch G.I. Joe
And other cartoon by Hasbro

[Tootsie Plunkette]

Lux in a Maytag could make things clean

Those were the days! Nowadays nobody can put clothing in a washing machine with some detergent and have clean clothes.

[DrFraud]

Originally Posted by snopes

A shiny quarter could buy delight

Even a comic book cost more than a quarter, in my experience.

Wonder bread with fried bologna
Wednesday night was macaroni

Most people's moms* didn't have a culinary repetoire as limited as your own mother's, d00d.

*Or dads. But I could've counted the ones who did anything more than the occasional barbecue on one hand.

[Spam & Cookies-mmm]

Originally Posted by DrFraud

Even a comic book cost more than a quarter, in my experience.

Comic book pricing in the 70s wasn't bad.

I think I got 50 cents a week allowance in 1976. I liked to go with my friend to the Li'l General store, buy an Orange Crush and a comic book. We'd sit outside the store and drink our drinks and read the comics, and then collect the deposit on the bottles and buy us each a donut at the bakery. We felt so smart doing that.

Originally Posted by Spam & Cookies-mmm

Comic book pricing in the 70s wasn't bad.

I think I got 50 cents a week allowance in 1976. I liked to go with my friend to the Li'l General store, buy an Orange Crush and a comic book. We'd sit outside the store and drink our drinks and read the comics, and then collect the deposit on the bottles and buy us each a donut at the bakery. We felt so smart doing that.

And smart you should feel! You got far more out of your allowance than I did out of mine. And it showed planning ahead and investment. Very wise.

[Avril]

Originally Posted by snopes

A shiny quarter could buy delight
The friends we had without a fight

I would think buying friends costs more than a quarter.

Avril

[Canuckistan]

Originally Posted by Avril

I would think buying friends costs more than a quarter.

You can get some mighty good deals in the bargain bin.