The Three Degrees

About the Song

“Dirty Ol’ Man” by The Three Degrees is a classic disco track that showcases the group’s signature harmonies and infectious energy. Released in 1973, the song quickly became a hit, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The song’s catchy melody and upbeat tempo make it a perfect dance floor filler. The lyrics, which playfully accuse an older man of being a “dirty ol’ man,” are both cheeky and empowering. The Three Degrees’ vocals are full of personality and charisma, and their harmonies are perfectly blended.

“Dirty Ol’ Man” is a classic example of 1970s disco music, with its lush arrangements, funky basslines, and infectious grooves. The song’s popularity has endured over the years, and it remains a beloved classic among fans of disco and soul music.

In addition to its commercial success, “Dirty Ol’ Man” also garnered critical acclaim. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1974 for Best R&B Performance by a Group.

“Dirty Ol’ Man” is a timeless disco anthem that continues to inspire and delight listeners. Its catchy melody, infectious energy, and empowering lyrics make it a must-listen for fans of classic dance music.

Stream The Three Degrees - Dirty Old Man (dnb remix) by Sukatumi | Listen online for free on SoundCloud

Video

Lyrics: Dirty Ol’ Man

Dirty
You’re a dirty ol’ man
You can’t keep your hands to yourself
You’re a dirty ol’ man
Go mess around with somebody elseNow I’ve done told you
That you can look but please don’t touch
‘Cause you don’t understand what I mean
Can’t you see I’m not old enoughYou say that ain’t, ain’t nothing but a number
You’re much too experienced for me
Ooh, all you wanna do is take my love
All you want is another victory

Dirty ol’ man
You can’t keep your hands to yourself
You’re a dirty ol’ man
Go mess around with somebody else

Next time you see me
You can speak but please don’t stuck
‘Cause I believed every word you said
And here I am with a broken heart

You won your game now
Don’t waste it on a date
No, no, no, no, no

‘Cause you’re a married man
And I’m still free
Ooh, all you wanna do is take my love
All you want is another victory

Dirty ol’ man
You can’t keep your hands to yourself
Dirty ol’ man
Go mess around with somebody else

A dirty, dirty
Dirty ol’ man

A dirty, dirty
Dirty ol’ man

A dirty, dirty
Dirty ol’ man

A dirty, dirty
Dirty ol’ man

Dirty

All you wanna do is to use me
All you wanna do is to take advantage of me
Dirty, dirty, dirty, dirty

Dirty, dirty, dirty, dirty ol’ man

You’re a dirty ol’ man
You can’t keep your hands to yourself
You’re a dirty ol’ man
Go mess around with somebody else

You’re a dirty ol’ man
You can’t keep your hands to yourself
You’re a dirty ol’ man
Go mess around with somebody else

You’re a dirty ol’ man
You can’t keep your hands to yourself

You Missed

MINNIE PEARL WALKED ONSTAGE AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY FOR 50 YEARS WITH A $1.98 PRICE TAG ON HER HAT — AND THEN ONE NIGHT, SHE JUST COULDN’T ANYMORE. Here’s something most people don’t think about with Minnie Pearl. That price tag hanging off her straw hat? It wasn’t random. Sarah Cannon — that was her real name — created it as a joke about a country girl too proud of her new hat to take the tag off. And audiences loved it so much that it became the most recognizable prop in country music history. For over fifty years, that tag meant Minnie was here, and everything was going to be fun. So imagine what it felt like when she couldn’t put the hat on anymore. In June 1991, Sarah had a massive stroke. She was 79. And just like that, the woman who hadn’t missed an Opry show in decades was gone from the stage. But here’s what gets me. She didn’t die in 1991. She lived another five years after that stroke, mostly out of the public eye, unable to perform, unable to be “Minnie” the way she’d always been. Her husband Henry Cannon took care of her at their Nashville home. Friends visited, but they said it was hard. The woman who made millions of people laugh couldn’t get through a full conversation some days. Roy Acuff, her old friend from the Opry, kept her dressing room exactly the way she left it. Nobody used it. The hat sat there. She passed on March 4, 1996. And what most people remember is the comedy. The “HOW-DEEE” catchphrase. The big goofy grin. What they don’t remember is that Sarah Cannon was also a serious fundraiser for cancer research. Centennial Medical Center in Nashville named their cancer center after her — not after Minnie, after Sarah. She raised millions and rarely talked about it publicly. There’s a story about the very last time Sarah tried to put on the hat at home, months after the stroke, and what her husband said to her in that moment — it’s the kind of detail that makes you see fifty years of comedy completely differently. Roy Acuff kept Minnie Pearl’s dressing room untouched for years after she left — was that loyalty to a friend, or was he holding a door open for someone he knew was never coming back?