Back Porch
Gregg Stafford Lyrics
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Slurpin' on a peach, starin' at the situation
Kitty at my foot, meowin' out a conversation
Rockin' back 'n' forth, that's my only destination
Old man on the back porch, old man on the back porch
Old man on the back porch, and that old man is me
Old man on the back porch, old man on the back porch
Old man on the back porch, and that.....
Got a two-string on my lap, total subsonic vacation
Got chicken on the drums, poundin' out a perfect prescription
Got twenty little worms, all plug into amplification
Got fifteen hundred bass drum luggin' bug-eyed monkeys
All arriving at the station
Old man on the back porch, old man on the back porch
Old man on the back porch, and that old man is me
Old man on the back porch, old man on the back porch
Old man on the back porch, and that.....
Me me meeeee-ow whoa, whoa, whoa
I'm sittin' on the back porch, kickin' my legs back, rockin in my rockin'chair,
just sittin' there.
On the little back porch it's about to fall apart
So I think I might repair it, just as I'm thinkin about repairin' it
Some little friends come along with some two-string, one string
No string guitars (Hey Chris wanna jam?), and they plug
Them all into the back porch, and they sit around playing all their favorite
songs
And kickin back, feelin' real good, real fine, real full of the wine
And everything's fine, everything's beautiful, everything's great
And I just feel so good, you know I'm seventy years old and
I'm slurpin' everything through a straw
I'm sittin' here on the back porch just eatin' chocolate pudding through a straw
And I heated it up on a little sterno stove, tastes just like a warm body fluid
goin' down
Little players comin' 'round, pluggin' in their instruments, feelin' good about
Themselves, singin' original songs, by the original masters
And I'm sittin' there on the porch, rockin' back 'n' forth in my little old
chair
But I'm an old man on the back porch, old man on the back porch
Old man on the back porch, and that old man is me
Old man on the back porch, old man on the back porch
Old man on the back porch, and that.....
The song "Back Porch" by Gregg Stafford is a descriptive ballad about an old man sitting on his back porch, enjoying a lazy day. The first verse of the song sets the tone for the rest of the piece, describing how content the man is with his simple life, as he doesn't need much to be happy. He is drinking a peach and chatting with his kitty, without a care in the world. He rocks back and forth in his chair, seemingly enjoying himself as he looks around at the world. The chorus repeats the same lines about the old man on the back porch, emphasizing how connected to the scene he feels.
The second verse is where the song begins to shift from a simple description of the man's day to a more surreal and dream-like experience. The old man has a two-string guitar in his lap, creating a sound that he describes as a "total subsonic vacation." A "chicken on the drums" and "twenty little worms all plug into amplification" paint a picture of a surreal and otherworldly musical performance. Even more strange is the image of "fifteen hundred bass drum lugging bug-eyed monkeys" arriving at the station. The chorus repeats once again, emphasizing how the image of the old man on the back porch is a grounding force amidst all this madness.
The final verse takes on a more philosophical tone, as the old man reflects on his life and the role he plays in his community. He acknowledges that his back porch may be falling apart, but he still plans to fix it, as he is a part of that place and that place is a part of him. The verse ends with the image of young musicians coming to the old man's porch to play music and hang out, creating a sense of connection between generations. The final chorus repeats the same lines as before, creating a sense of continuity and stability in the face of change.
Line by Line Meaning
Happy with no teeth, happy here in hibernation
I am content with my current state, and I do not need much to be happy. I am taking a break from the world and enjoying some peace and quiet.
Slurpin' on a peach, starin' at the situation
I am taking pleasure in the small things in life, like enjoying a peach, while also contemplating my current situation.
Kitty at my foot, meowin' out a conversation
My cat is keeping me company and we are having a little conversation. It is a simple but meaningful interaction.
Rockin' back 'n' forth, that's my only destination
My only goal right now is to relax and enjoy the moment. I am simply rocking back and forth in my rocking chair, savoring the present.
Got a two-string on my lap, total subsonic vacation
I have a two-stringed instrument on my lap and it is bringing me joy. It is a simple pleasure that is music to my ears.
Got chicken on the drums, poundin' out a perfect prescription
I have some chicken playing on the drums and it is giving me a perfect beat to accompany my music. It is music in its simplest form.
Got twenty little worms, all plug into amplification
I have a bunch of little amplifiers on hand, and I'm using them to enhance the sound of the music. These little technological touches help make the music even better.
Got fifteen hundred bass drum luggin' bug-eyed monkeys
All arriving at the station
I have a lot of bass drums and they are being carried by a lot of monkeys. They are all arriving at my station to share in the musical moment. It's a chaotic yet joyful experience.
I'm sittin' on the back porch, kickin' my legs back, rockin in my rockin'chair,
just sittin' there.
I am simply relaxing on my back porch, in a rocking chair, with my feet kicked up. I am not doing anything in particular except enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
On the little back porch it's about to fall apart
So I think I might repair it, just as I'm thinkin about repairin' it
My back porch is small and in need of repair, but I am considering fixing it up. This thought crosses my mind as I enjoy my surroundings.
Some little friends come along with some two-string, one string
No string guitars (Hey Chris wanna jam?), and they plug
Them all into the back porch, and they sit around playing all their favorite
songs
My friends come over to my back porch with their guitars and we start making music together. We all plug our instruments into the little porch and play our favorite songs. It is a moment of bonding and unity through music.
And kickin back, feelin' real good, real fine, real full of the wine
And everything's fine, everything's beautiful, everything's great
We are all relaxing and enjoying the music, feeling good and content. Everything around us is beautiful and great, and it is a moment of pure joy.
And I just feel so good, you know I'm seventy years old and
I'm slurpin' everything through a straw
I'm sittin' here on the back porch just eatin' chocolate pudding through a straw
And I heated it up on a little sterno stove, tastes just like a warm body fluid
goin' down
At my advanced age of seventy, I am enjoying the simple indulgence of eating chocolate pudding through a straw. I even heated it up on a little sterno stove, making it a warm and comforting experience.
Little players comin' 'round, pluggin' in their instruments, feelin' good about
Themselves, singin' original songs, by the original masters
More players come around to join us on the porch, bringing their instruments and adding to the music. Everyone is feeling good and proud of their contributions to the original songs we are singing together.
And I'm sittin' there on the porch, rockin' back 'n' forth in my little old
chair
But I'm an old man on the back porch, old man on the back porch
Old man on the back porch, and that old man is me
I am still simply sitting on my porch, rocking back and forth in my chair, but now I am aware of my age and my place in the world. I am an old man on the back porch, and I am content with this.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER WELDON BALLEW, DAVID MICHAEL DEDERER, JASON S FINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind