Rapid City South Dakota
Kinky Friedman gelesen von Wiglaf Droste Lyrics
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Just a ragged kid in overalls, he thumbed a ride one day
He told me, Anywhere you′re going's on my way.
But as we passed by Big Al′s drive-in his eyes began to flash
He was leavin' Rapid City mighty fast.
He said, I hope to God she finds the good-bye letter that I
But the mail don't move so fast in Rapid City, South
Dakota.
Well, he left her just a blanket of snow upon the farm
And that don′t keep your conscience very warm.
He said his friends were too durn country and his pa was too
Damn mean
And there weren′t no money pumpin' gasoline.
And her gentle eyes, the merchandise of dreams the peddler sold
Her
Who left her there alone in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Now the reason he was goin′, I ain't sure I could say,
Might′ve been the rodeo in Santa Fé.
There's a doctor in Chicago, I know she′ll be all right
He told himself as he stared into the night.
And he said, I hope to God she finds the good-bye letter that
I wrote her
But the mail don't move so fast in Rapid City, South
Dakota.
And all her people treatin' her just like they never knowed
Her
Lord, the winter′s passin′ slow in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The song "Rapid City, South Dakota" by Kinky Friedman tells the story of a young man who leaves his girlfriend in Rapid City to pursue other dreams. He hitchhikes with the singer, who notices his troubled state of mind. As they pass by Big Al's drive-in, the young man's eyes seem to light up, as if the sight of it is the final straw that makes him decide to leave. He mentions that he left his girlfriend a note, hoping she will find it soon, although the mail is slow in Rapid City.
The young man's reasons for leaving are not entirely clear, but he mentions that his friends were too country, and his father was too mean. He appears to be disillusioned with his life and wants to explore other options. The girl he left behind seems to be a symbol of what he has lost or left behind. Her gentle eyes are the "merchandise of dreams the peddler sold," hinting at some kind of yearning or missed opportunity.
The final verse of the song suggests that time is passing slowly for the girl in Rapid City. Her people are treating her like they never knew her, perhaps indicating that she is now seen as damaged goods because her boyfriend left her. Meanwhile, the young man is optimistic about his future but still hopes that his girlfriend finds his note. The song paints a picture of two lives moving in different directions, with the possibility of a reunion uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
Just a ragged kid in overalls, he thumbed a ride one day
A young boy, who looked poorly dressed, caught a lift with someone who was heading in the same direction as him.
He told me, Anywhere you′re going's on my way.
The boy said he would go anywhere the driver was headed.
But as we passed by Big Al′s drive-in his eyes began to flash
When they drove past Big Al's drive-in, the boy's eyes lit up.
He was leavin' Rapid City mighty fast.
The boy was in a hurry to leave Rapid City.
He said, I hope to God she finds the good-bye letter that I
Wrote her
The boy expressed his hope that the girl he was leaving behind could find a letter he had written.
But the mail don't move so fast in Rapid City, South
Dakota.
The boy was worried that the postal service in Rapid City was slow and the letter might not get to the girl quickly enough.
Well, he left her just a blanket of snow upon the farm
The boy left the girl with nothing but snow on her farm.
And that don′t keep your conscience very warm.
The boy felt guilty for leaving the girl with nothing but snow.
He said his friends were too durn country and his pa was too
Damn mean
The boy didn't like his friends and thought his father was too strict.
And there weren′t no money pumpin' gasoline.
The boy didn't have any money to buy gasoline.
And her gentle eyes, the merchandise of dreams the peddler sold
Her
The boy reminisced about the girl's beautiful eyes, which he thought were like something sold by a dream merchant.
Who left her there alone in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The boy felt bad for leaving the girl alone in Rapid City.
Now the reason he was goin′, I ain't sure I could say,
Might′ve been the rodeo in Santa Fé.
The boy wasn't sure why he was leaving, but it might have been to go to a rodeo in Santa Fe.
There's a doctor in Chicago, I know she′ll be all right
He told himself as he stared into the night.
The boy comforted himself by thinking that the girl could see a doctor in Chicago and be okay. He said this to himself as he looked out into the night sky.
And all her people treatin' her just like they never knowed
Her
The boy felt that the girl was being ignored and treated poorly by the people around her.
Lord, the winter′s passin′ slow in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The boy acknowledged that time was passing slowly in Rapid City during the winter, which implied that it was a harsh and gloomy place to be stuck in.
Writer(s): Kinky Friedman
Contributed by Cameron E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ViewCation
Are you planning to visit South Dakota and would like to know more about the lovely state? We have a playlist just for you: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZVNyXFHt9leWJdbd5CRVlKDo7MX7YCsG
Rodney Thomas
I am going there in early May to visit a buddy who owns a house out there. I decided to look up some videos just now and found this and you just posted it. Vey helpful. Thank you.
ViewCation
You're very much welcome! We do hope that you'll have the best time. Which city/location would you like us to cover next?
NickBeechKingair
I visited here a few years back, and when I was looking out the window of my hotel room I saw a Arnolds restaurant across the street. It was modeled after the Arnolds on the Happy Days TV show! I remembered the show so I wanted to go have lunch there. So when I arrived at the restaurant, I found out that it was permanently closed! I wondered If it was because they started serving a seafood burger called Jump the Shark!
ViewCation
Very interesting, thank you so much for sharing this! We loved Happy Days. Which episode is the most memorable for you?
DJ STRIC
"Paha - Hills / Sapa - Black." I am part Lakota, its like with Spanish you say it backwards to mean it forward. "Black Hills" is just "Paha Sapa" as, not "Hills of the Black." Lakota language is very a complex language to learn n understand. ( I am not correcting you I am just saying what I was brought up saying it)
Braelyn Iron Boy
I live in South Dakota and in November 4th me and my family are going to a hotel
ViewCation
Fun stuff, thank you so much for sharing! What other types of video would you like to see on our channel?
SpeedFurious
I am from rapid city South Dakota
ViewCation
Fun stuff, thanks for sharing! Any hidden spot you would like to share?