Dean Brody was born in Jaffray, British Columbia, Canada.[2] As a boy, Brody worked at a sawmill, also playing guitar in his spare time. By 2004, he had moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue his musical career. Although he found a songwriting contract, the expiration of his US work permit forced him to move back to Canada. Eventually, he returned to Nashville through the suggestion of producer Keith Stegall, who helped him sign with Broken Bow Records in 2008.[2] Brody released his debut single, "Brothers", late that year. Shortly before its release, Brody was injured in a waterskiing accident.[3]
Old Joe Riley
Dean Brody Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the ocean out front and the bay out back
He had a little boat and a fisherman's tan
When he wasn't out fishin' he was sittin' in the sand
Then the big boys came and they offered him millions
To put up some condos or a swank hotel
Old Joe Riley told them no thanks anywayI could use the money but I just can't sell
A low rent heaven beats a high dollar hell
A low rent heaven beats a high dollar hell
Come on
He said I've seen the cities eatin' up small towns
Where you can't smell the breeze and it's cement ground
You pay to park your car but it ain't safe to walk
Nobody looks you in the eye, don't speak, don't talk
So when the big boys came and they offered him millions
To put up some condos or a swank hotel
Old Joe Riley told them no thanks anyway
I could use the money but I just can't sell
A low rent heaven beats a high dollar hell
A low rent heaven beats a high dollar hell
Here we go
Yeah the bank lock box there's a deed to some land
With his widow's gold ring a few grains of sand
Joe Riley's granddaughter's gonna face a big choice
I hope she remembers her granddaddy's voice
When the big boys came and they offered him millions
To put up some condos or a swank hotel
Old Joe Riley told them no thanks anyway
A low rent heaven beats a high dollar hell
A low rent heaven beats a high dollar hell
A low rent heaven beats a high dollar hell
A low rent heaven beats a high dollar hell
Come on
The song "Old Joe Riley" by Dean Brody is a tribute to a man who held on to his values and principles despite being offered millions to sell his land, where he provided a humble home for himself and others, to big developers who wanted to build condos or a swank hotel. Old Joe Riley's fishin' shack was not just a house, but a low rent heaven where he could sit on the sand and enjoy the ocean and bay. The lyrics showcase how he was determined to protect his small town from becoming a city where people are strangers to one another, have no idea about the value of human connections, and just pay to park their cars. Brody muses upon how Old Joe Riley's granddaughter has to face the same dilemma her grandfather faced - should she give in to the temptations of big money by selling the land or keep the shack as it is.
The song takes a stand against the allure of progress that comes at the cost of community spaces and quaint living. Old Joe Riley's character represents resilience, determination, and conviction in the face of lucrative opportunities that could compromise simple living. The lyrics celebrate his decision to put a price on memories, people, and places that are priceless: "I could use the money, but I just can't sell. A low rent heaven beats a high dollar hell." Brody's song inspires listeners to reflect on how they would choose between material wealth and the invaluable experiences that make them who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
Old Joe Riley owned a fishin' shack
Old Joe Riley was the owner of a small fishing shack
With the ocean out front and the bay out back
He had a shack located in a place with ocean on one side and bay on the other
He had a little boat and a fisherman's tan
Old Joe Riley was a fisherman who had a small boat and a tanned skin from spending time in the sun
When he wasn't out fishin' he was sittin' in the sand
When he was not fishing, he would sit on the sand
Then the big boys came and they offered him millions
Some wealthy business people offered him a large sum of money
To put up some condos or a swank hotel
They wanted to build a high-end hotel or apartment complex
Old Joe Riley told them no thanks anyway
Riley declined their offer
I could use the money but I just can't sell
Riley acknowledged that he could use the money but couldn't bring himself to sell his beloved property
A low rent heaven beats a high dollar hell
He believed that his simple lifestyle at his shack was better than living in an upscale, urban environment
Come on
Just a filler line to transition into the next verse
He said I've seen the cities eatin' up small towns
Riley has observed that urbanization has been devouring rural towns
Where you can't smell the breeze and it's cement ground
He remarked on the fact that in cities, the air is polluted and there is no greenery
You pay to park your car but it ain't safe to walk
In the city, you have to pay for parking spots, there is no walking safety and people become mistrustful
Nobody looks you in the eye, don't speak, don't talk
In the city, people become preoccupied with their own lives and are not friendly or approachable
So when the big boys came and they offered him millions
The wealthy business people made a big offer to Riley once again
To put up some condos or a swank hotel
They repeated their wish to build a high-end complex
Old Joe Riley told them no thanks anyway
For the second time, Riley declined the offer
Here we go
Another filler line to transition to the last verse
Yeah the bank lock box there's a deed to some land
Riley has an important document stored in a bank lock box
With his widow's gold ring a few grains of sand
The box also contains his late wife's ring and some sand, likely from their shack or a special place they visited
Joe Riley's granddaughter's gonna face a big choice
Riley's granddaughter will have to make a difficult decision
I hope she remembers her granddaddy's voice
Riley hopes his granddaughter will remember his words and make a decision he would be proud of
A low rent heaven beats a high dollar hell
This line is repeated once again to emphasize Riley's philosophy
Come on
Just a closing line
Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment
Written by: Rick Giles, Steve Bogard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind