The Grandpa That I Know
A Farmer's Farewell: Grandpa's Legacy Revealed
Lyrics
Brand new shoes, they hurt my feet
Expressing discomfort from new shoes
This lace collar's chokin' me
Feeling constrained by a tight lace collar
Cuttin' off my air supply
Sensations of suffocation due to the tight collar
When I hang my head to cry
Emotional expression when lowering the head to cry
When I hang my head to cry
Repetition of emotional turmoil and crying
I see tears on daddy's face
Observing tears on the speaker's father's face
Someone's hummin' "Amazing Grace"
Hearing "Amazing Grace" being hummed
Rain beats on this graveside tier
Describing rain on a graveside, possibly during a funeral
Preacher says he did repent
Indication that the deceased repented, as per the preacher
Preacher says he did repent
Repetition of the notion of repentance
They've got him layin' there in pin stripes
Noting the deceased wearing pinstripes, questioning how
How'd they get him in that suit?
Expressing confusion about the deceased's attire
I guess the Lord will recognize him
Faith that the Lord will recognize the deceased without usual attire
Without his overalls an' mule
Highlighting the absence of overalls and a mule
An' they all say he looks so natural
Others perceive the deceased as natural, but speaker sees a dark hole
But all I see's a cold dark hole
A contrasting view of the funeral scene
I won't commit this day to memory
Refusing to remember this day involving the unfamiliar image
That ain't the Grandpa that I know
Assertion that this isn't the Grandpa the speaker knew
That ain't the Grandpa that I know
Repetition emphasizing the unfamiliarity of the deceased
Tractor never pulled his plough
Grandpa preferred walking over using a tractor for plowing
He walked, an' cussed, an' loved that ground
Describing Grandpa's simple and grounded lifestyle
His hand sowed each and every seed
Grandpa personally planted every seed by hand
An' he'd pray for rain an' fight the weeds
Grandpa prayed for rain and fought against weeds
He'd pray for rain an' fight the weeds
Repetition of Grandpa's agricultural practices
He said: "The simple life, it suits me fine"
Grandpa appreciated and preferred a simple life
Never dreamed beyond the County line
Grandpa's limited aspirations beyond the County line
Grandma was his boyhood bride
Grandma was Grandpa's lifelong partner
He'll be there in her arms tonight
Grandpa will rest in Grandma's arms
He'll sleep there in her arms tonight
Repetition of Grandpa's peaceful rest
They've got him layin' there in pin stripes
Similar scene as in the first stanza, the deceased in pinstripes
How'd they get him in that suit?
Reiteration of confusion about the deceased's attire
I guess the Lord will recognize him
Reaffirmation of faith that the Lord will recognize Grandpa
Without his overalls an' mule
Repetition of Grandpa's absence of usual clothing
An' they all say he looks so natural
Reiteration of others seeing the deceased as natural
But all I see's a cold dark hole
Repeating the speaker's view of a cold dark hole
I won't commit this day to memory
Reiteration of the speaker's refusal to remember this day
That ain't the Grandpa that I know
Reasserting that the deceased is not the Grandpa known
They played a pretty organ number
A musical interlude in the funeral ceremony
Swore it was his favorite tune
Claiming it's the deceased's favorite organ tune
But I know he preferred a fiddle
Speaker knowing Grandpa's preference for a fiddle
Playin' Carroll County Blues
Reference to Grandpa's favored "Carroll County Blues"
They all say he looks so natural
Others seeing the deceased as natural, contrasting with the speaker's view
But all I see's a cold dark hole
Reiteration of the speaker's perspective of a dark hole
I won't commit this day to memory
Reiteration of the refusal to remember this unfamiliar day
That ain't the Grandpa that I know
Final assertion that the deceased is not the Grandpa remembered
That ain't the Grandpa that I know
Repetition emphasizing the unfamiliarity of the deceased
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