The Old Duke
Heather Dale Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I laugh at those who call me old
Who think my age their best defence
For often fall the young and bold
Who fail to laud experience.
My sword and I are much the same:
Our actions swift and sure
Each scar I wear, each greying hair
The life I gave to her.

Throughout my life Ive led my men
Where King and Prince command
And always does my lady tend
To children, hearth and land.
My wife and I are much the same:
Our actions swift and sure
A husband fair, a home to share
The life I gave to her

To those who thought my lack of sons
Would end a warriors line
I laugh and toast my daughter
Who upon her throne does shine.
My child and I are much the same:
Our actions swift and sure
A privilege rare, a crown to bear
The life I gave to her

So every passing year reserves
Familiar rhythms and the new
And through it all I lead and serve
With joy as I was born to do.
My land and I are much the same:
Our spirits swift and sure




Each oath I swear, each shouldered care
The life I give to her

Overall Meaning

In the song "The Old Duke," Heather Dale paints a picturesque portrait of an aged warrior who laughs at those who call him old, mocking those who believe that age is their best defense. The opening stanza of the song sets the stage for the Duke's perspective on life, highlighting his respect and appreciation for experience over youthful exuberance. The Duke compares himself to his sword, explaining that both his actions and his weapon's are swift and sure, and that his scars and greying hair are a testament to the life he has given to his sword.


Throughout the song, Heather Dale weaves together the personal and professional personas of the Duke. She describes him as a leader of men, someone who has always served where King and Prince command. At the same time, she emphasizes the Duke's domestic life, painting him as a devoted husband and father. His wife and he both have swift and sure actions, and they share a life that is built on mutual respect and love.


Heather Dale's reflection on the aging Duke's life culminates in a description of the Duke's daughter, who leads from her throne. The Duke's lack of sons is no impediment to his daughter, who shines on the throne and bears an immense privilege. The Duke clearly takes great pride in his daughter's accomplishments, and the growth of his family highlights the cycles of life and experience.


Overall, Heather Dale's song "The Old Duke" speaks to the societal values placed on youth and the importance of experience. The Duke's story is one that celebrates the cycles of life and the ways in which age can bring wisdom and a unique perspective to leadership and family.


Line by Line Meaning

I laugh at those who call me old
The singer finds it amusing when people refer to them as old


Who think my age their best defence
People often use the singer's age as an excuse for anything they don't wish to do


For often fall the young and bold
The young and reckless have the tendency to fail


Who fail to laud experience.
Those who ignore valuable life lessons can easily come to grief


My sword and I are much the same:
The artist and their sword share traits like being decisive in action


Our actions swift and sure
Both the singer and their sword are quick and confident in their moves


Each scar I wear, each greying hair
The physical toll of the singer's life experience is evident in their body


The life I gave to her.
The artist has dedicated their life to something or someone, which has left their mark on them


Throughout my life I've led my men
The artist has spent most of their life leading a group of people


Where King and Prince command
The artist has been in service to a royal family


And always does my lady tend
The singer's female partner is skilled at managing household affairs


To children, hearth and land.
The artist's family and home are central to their values and responsibilities


My wife and I are much the same:
The singer and their wife share traits like being decisive in action


Our actions swift and sure
Both the singer and their wife are quick and confident in their moves


A husband fair, a home to share
The singer is an honorable husband and provider for their family


The life I gave to her.
The artist has dedicated their life to something or someone, which has left their mark on them


To those who thought my lack of sons
Some individuals believed that the artist's family line would end because they had no sons


Would end a warriors line
It was thought that the absence of sons would discontinue the family's reputation for being warriors


I laugh and toast my daughter
The singer prefers to celebrate their daughter's strengths, instead of lamenting the lack of sons


Who upon her throne does shine.
The artist's daughter is in a position of power and she excels at it


My child and I are much the same:
The artist and their daughter share traits like being decisive in action


Our actions swift and sure
Both the artist and their daughter are quick and confident in their moves


A privilege rare, a crown to bear
The singer's daughter has a very special role and a lot of responsibility


The life I gave to her.
The artist has dedicated their life to something or someone, which has left their mark on them


So every passing year reserves
Each year brings new experiences for the singer


Familiar rhythms and the new
The singer encounters both the familiar and novel throughout their life


And through it all I lead and serve
The singer remains a dedicated leader and servant, no matter the circumstances


With joy as I was born to do.
The artist finds fulfillment in their life's work


My land and I are much the same:
The artist's identity is intertwined with their homeland


Our spirits swift and sure
Both the singer and their land have decisive and confident energy


Each oath I swear, each shouldered care
The singer is committed to their responsibilities and carries the weight of those duties with them


The life I give to her
The artist has dedicated their life to something or someone, which has left their mark on them




Contributed by Parker Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found