Old Ways
Legacy of the Land: Embracing the Time-Tested Wisdom in 'Old Ways'
Lyrics
My granddaddy's daddy
Reflecting on the ancestry, the speaker's great-grandfather
Settled down here on this land
Established a settlement on the current land
A mule, forty acres and two willing hands
Had a mule, forty acres, and a strong work ethic
Worked this timber turned to lumber
Engaged in timber work, converting it to lumber
Built the house where I was raised
Constructed the speaker's childhood home
And he did it all because he was taught the old ways
Did it all due to adherence to traditional values ("the old ways")
By the time my daddy started
Transition to the speaker's father passing down traditions
Passing down these tools to me
Handed down tools with a rich family history
They were time tested tried and true family legacies
Tools with a proven track record, part of the family legacy
Save the seeds out of the garden
Advice to save seeds and follow biblical guidance
Let the bible lead your way
Expressing gratitude for traditional values ("the old ways")
Lord, I am thankful he passed down the old ways
Well hard times are hard
Acknowledging the challenges ("hard times") shaping character
But they make you who you are
Difficulties contribute to one's identity
And the lessons that we've learned along the way
Lessons learned should guide actions
Are meant to be used often
Emphasizing the application of lessons in daily life
Lest they be forgotten
Warning against forgetting valuable lessons
Life ain't always made of good old days
Life isn't always easy, not just made of good days
And I'm a proud member of the old ways
Expressing pride in following traditional values ("the old ways")
Daddy crossed over
Speaker's father passed away in 1995
In the spring of ninety-five
Responsibility passed to the speaker to preserve traditions
He left it on my shoulders to keep it all alive
The burden of maintaining family values and legacy
Though I feel like a stranger
Feeling out of place in the fast-paced modern world
In this fast and modern age
Living a life of sharing and preserving traditional values
I live a life of passing round
Passing down customs to future generations
And handing down the old ways
Well hard times are hard
Reiteration of the impact of challenges on character
But they make you who you are
Hard times shape and define an individual
And the lessons that we've learned along the way
Reiterating the importance of lessons learned
Are meant to be used often
Emphasizing the practical application of wisdom
Lest they be forgotten
Warning against neglecting valuable teachings
Life ain't always made of good old days
Life has its challenges; not every day is a good day
And I'm a proud member of the old ways
Reiterating pride in following traditional values ("the old ways")
And I'm a proud member of the old ways
Final affirmation of pride in adhering to traditional values
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