The Grandpa That I Know

A Farmer's Farewell: Grandpa's Legacy Revealed
Be the first to rate this song

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

Similar Songs

Comment