Mean Old Man
J. Walter Hawkes Lyrics

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The old man he catches
The fish in the morning
He rides the river every day
I sit on the bank and
I holler when he passes
"Hey, old man, are they biting today"
I wake up in the morning,
Thinking 'bout my troubles

I go down to the water
And they pass away
And when the old man comes
A-floating down the river
"Hey, old man, are they biting today"
Now here we've got a thing
That keeps on rolling
It ain't heavy, don't take it that way
The old man and me,
We got a good thing going

He gets his fish and I sit all day
He gets his fish and I sit all day

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of J. Walter Hawkes's song "Mean Old Man" paint a vivid picture of a man who spends his days fishing in a river, and the singer who sits on the bank and watches him. The old man is a skilled fisherman who catches fish every morning, and the singer of the song admires him and asks him if the fish are biting that day. The singer also reveals that he goes to the water in the morning to escape from his troubles, and the sight of the old man floating down the river brings him peace.

The song suggests that the old man and the singer have a special bond, and that they both benefit from their friendship. The old man gets his fish, but the singer also finds solace in watching him and being near the water. The lyrics also imply that the passage of time and the rhythm of the river are constants in their lives, something that they can rely on even as other things in their lives may change.

Overall, "Mean Old Man" is a song about the simple pleasures of life, the beauty of nature, and the power of human connection. It reminds us that even in difficult times, we can find peace and friendship if we look for it.

Line by Line Meaning

The old man he catches
The elderly man successfully catches fish

The fish in the morning
He catches his fish most likely in the morning

He rides the river every day
He goes fishing every single day

I sit on the bank and
I stay seated next to the riverbank

I holler when he passes
I shout to the old man as he goes by

"Hey, old man, are they biting today"
I ask him if the fish are biting today

I wake up in the morning,
At the beginning of each day, I awaken

Thinking 'bout my troubles
At that moment, I focus on my problems

I go down to the water
I walk towards the river

And they pass away
And my issues vanish from my thoughts

And when the old man comes
Whenever I see the old man