Age Old Dream
Chasing Dreams Beyond the Divide
Lyrics
When I was young and seventeen
Reflecting on the speaker's youth at the age of seventeen.
I left to find an age-old dream
Expressing the speaker's pursuit of a timeless and enduring dream.
It is true every boy will know
Acknowledging that every young man will eventually leave his mother's home.
One day he'll leave his mamma's home
Highlighting the universal experience of growing up and leaving one's family.
And I broke my back on the mountainside
Describing the physical challenges faced by the speaker on a mountainside.
Left my heart on this mountainside
Conveying the emotional sacrifice made by leaving a part of oneself behind.
I've punched these holes in the rocky ground
Describing the manual labor and effort involved in digging holes in rocky terrain.
And I dug with only the dark around
Depicting the speaker's solitary work in darkness on the mountainside.
I had a good boss and he died too
Remembering a good boss who has passed away, contrasting with less competent successors.
And everyone since has been a fool
Expressing dissatisfaction with subsequent bosses who are considered fools.
And it's dark and cold on the mountainside
Creating an atmosphere of darkness and coldness on the mountainside.
Breaking our backs on this mountainside
Describing the collective struggle of breaking backs while working on the mountainside.
Every night I sleep with you
Indicating a sense of intimacy and connection, even in dreams and nightmares.
In dreams and sometimes nightmares
Elaborating on the depth of the connection, experienced both positively and negatively.
Pennies come and the nickels go
Referring to the financial ebb and flow, with money coming and going.
And years go by still nowhere close
Expressing a feeling of time passing without significant progress.
And I'm tryin' to leave the mountainside
Conveying the speaker's desire to leave the challenging mountainside.
Getting off this damned divide
Expressing frustration and determination to overcome obstacles and move forward.
Workin' for what might be left
Describing efforts to work for what remains or is still possible.
And tryin' to make a long lost self
Attempting to rediscover and rebuild a forgotten or lost sense of self.
On the the trails of hopeful lives
Reflecting on the paths of others who pursued hopeful lives.
That never quit so I keep tryin'
Expressing determination to persevere, inspired by those who never gave up.
And I broke my heart on the mountainside
Echoing the emotional toll of the speaker's efforts on the mountainside.
Trying to cross this damned divide
Revealing the ongoing struggle to cross a metaphorical and challenging divide.
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