Way Back Home
Ambrose and His Orchestra Lyrics


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Everyone knows him as Old Folks
Like the seasons, he'll come and he'll go
Just as free as a bird and as good as his word
That's why everybody loves him so

Always leaving his spoon in his coffee
Tucks his napkin up under his chin
And that yellow cow-pie is so mellow it's ripe
But you needn't be ashamed of him
Every Friday he'll go fishing, down on his favorite lake
But he only hooks a perch or two, the whale got away
Looks like we warm the steak

Someday there'll be no more Old Folks
What a lonesome old town this will be




Children's voice at play, will be still for a day
The day they take the Old Folks away

Overall Meaning

The song "Way Back Home" by Ambrose and His Orchestra is a tribute to an old man known as Old Folks. He is a beloved figure in the town, as free as a bird and as good as his word. The song describes how he always leaves his spoon in his coffee and tucks his napkin up under his chin, and how everyone is fond of him, even though he is a bit eccentric. He is known for going fishing every Friday but only hooks a perch or two, and the whale always seems to get away. The song ends with a somber tone, as the line "Someday there'll be no more Old Folks" reminds us that this beloved figure will not be around forever, leaving a lonesome old town behind.


The lyrics of "Way Back Home" evoke feelings of nostalgia and sentimentality for a simpler time when life was less hectic and people were more carefree. The chorus captures this sentiment, "Way back home, where the flowers bloom in the springtime, In the morning, dew, and the robins sing, Where the days are long, where the shadows fall so softly, Just like the angelus ringing, far away." The song speaks to the universal experience of wanting to return to a simpler time when the world seemed less complicated.


Line by Line Meaning

Everyone knows him as Old Folks
Old Folks is well-known in the town.


Like the seasons, he'll come and he'll go
Old Folks visits the town occasionally, like the changing seasons.


Just as free as a bird and as good as his word
Old Folks is free and does what he says he will do, like a bird.


That's why everybody loves him so
Because of his free spirit and trustworthiness, everyone loves Old Folks.


Always leaving his spoon in his coffee
Old Folks has a habit of leaving his spoon in his coffee cup.


Tucks his napkin up under his chin
Old Folks tucks his napkin up under his chin when he eats.


And that yellow cow-pie is so mellow it's ripe
Old Folks' cow manure is so old that it has become dry and yellow.


But you needn't be ashamed of him
Despite his odd habits, there is no need to be embarrassed by Old Folks.


Every Friday he'll go fishing, down on his favorite lake
Old Folks likes to fish on his favorite lake every Friday.


But he only hooks a perch or two, the whale got away
Although he goes fishing, Old Folks only catches a couple small fish while the bigger one gets away.


Looks like we warm the steak
It appears that they will have to cook the steak themselves since Old Folks did not catch any big fish.


Someday there'll be no more Old Folks
One day Old Folks will pass away and not visit the town anymore.


What a lonesome old town this will be
The town will be very lonely without Old Folks.


Children's voice at play, will be still for a day
The children in the town will be quiet for a day in remembrance of Old Folks.


The day they take the Old Folks away
The day Old Folks passes away or permanently leaves the town.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DEDETTE LEE HILL, WILLARD ROBISON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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