Paradise
Journey to Lost Paradise: Reflections on Muhlenberg County
Lyrics
When I was a child my family would travel
Recollection of childhood travels with the family.
Down to Western Kentucky where my parents were born
Visiting Western Kentucky, the birthplace of the narrator's parents.
And there's a backwards old town that's often remembered
Reference to a nostalgic old town in the narrator's memories.
So many times that my memories are worn
Frequent recollections have worn down the memories.
And daddy won't you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Narrator's request to return to Muhlenberg County.
Down by the Green River where Paradise lay
Describing Paradise near the Green River in Muhlenberg County.
Well, I'm sorry my son, but you're too late in asking
Dad's apology; Paradise is gone, taken away by coal mining.
Mister Peabody's coal train has hauled it away
Mister Peabody's coal train has already removed Paradise.
Well, sometimes we'd travel right down the Green River
Recollection of traveling along the Green River.
To the abandoned old prison down by Airdrie Hill
Visiting an abandoned prison near Airdrie Hill.
Where the air smelled like snakes and we'd shoot with our pistols
Describing the environment with a snake-like smell and shooting pop bottles.
But empty pop bottles was all we would kill
Limited harm done as they only shot empty bottles.
Then the coal company came with the world's largest shovel
Introduction of the coal company and their massive impact.
And they tortured the timber and stripped all the land
Destruction of nature by the coal company.
Well, they dug for their coal till the land was forsaken
Continued coal mining leading to the abandonment of the land.
Then they wrote it all down as the progress of man
Recording destruction as human progress.
When I die let my ashes float down the Green River
Expressing a wish for ashes to float down the Green River upon death.
Let my soul roll on up to the Rochester dam
Desire for the soul to reach the Rochester dam and Paradise.
I'll be halfway to Heaven with Paradise waitin'
Anticipating being halfway to Heaven with Paradise nearby.
Just five miles away from wherever I am
Proximity of Paradise, just five miles away from wherever the narrator is.
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