Old Man Luedecke left the big old city of Toronto, met a girl in the Yukon, fell in love, bought a banjo and fell in love again. After a couple of years of love and banjo and the makings of a brilliant performing career in sunny Halifax, he returned to the Yukon with his sweethearts. There he woodshedded. He wrote a ton of songs over the next year and a half. He held regular gigs playing banjo in a gambling hall with can-can girls and in a honky tonk called the Snakepit accompanying piano barnacle Bob. Even made an appearance at the Dawson City Music Festival. After a time, he left again for Halifax to renew musical acquaintances and record his debut CD Mole in the Ground. That CD has become a smash on college radio, was featured on CBC's Atlantic Airwaves and is a hot item in stores and at shows. He continues to live in Halifax and perform there and around the country to ever-wider acclaims. His stage show blends hokum and inspiration into powerful and fun entertainment that will delight young and old. He's still sweet on the girl he met up there in Yukon, and the banjo
http://www.oldmanluedecke.ca
Ain't Goin' My Way
Old Man Luedecke Lyrics
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Felt like everywhere I went, folks say "There he goes."
I was beaming like a noon day sun, my ducks all in a row
When suddenly all in a flash, I saw it was not so
It ain't goin' my way, ain't goin' my way
There's no denying things ain't flying my way
It ain't goin' my way, ain't goin' my way
I use to walk around a lot, feeling pretty small
People said you're not so bad, so I stood up tall
And my inner Napolean said you can have it all
I hit a curb and strained a nerve and headed for a fall
Ain't goin' my way, it ain't goin' my way
There's no denying things ain't flying my way
It ain't goin' my way, ain't goin' my way
There's no denying things ain't flying my way
Well how I am a lonely mole back in the underground
Dig bigger hills of little hills 'cause I'm so tightly wound
Really am I all that bad taking pennies for the pound
'Cause even from the margins Lord, there comes a holy sound
It ain't goin' my way, ain't goin' my way
There's no denying things ain't flying my way
It ain't goin' my way, ain't goin' my way
There's no denying things ain't flying my way
There's no denying things ain't flying my way
There's no denying things ain't flying my way
The lyrics to Old Man Luedecke's "Ain't Goin' My Way" speak to the intrinsic need for control and the illusions of grandeur that can come with it. The opening lines set the tone for the song, with the singer feeling important and in control, basking in the admiration of others. However, this high is short-lived as the singer suddenly realizes that things aren't as under their control as expected. The line "my ducks all in a row" implies a sense of order and preparation, but the following line "I saw it was not so" reveals the underlying chaos and unpredictability of life.
The chorus "It ain't goin' my way, ain't goin' my way / There's no denying things ain't flying my way" serves as a refrain, driving home the point that despite the singer's best efforts, things aren't going according to plan. The second verse uses the metaphor of walking to illustrate the contrast between feeling small and feeling powerful. The line "my inner Napoleon said you can have it all" highlights the ego-driven desire for control, but ultimately leads to a fall.
The final verse takes a different turn, with the singer reflecting on their current situation. The line "Well how am I a lonely mole back in the underground" implies a sense of isolation and detachment, but the following line "Dig bigger hills of little hills 'cause I'm so tightly wound" suggests that the singer still has a desire for control, even if it's misguided. The final line "there comes a holy sound" is hopeful, implying that even in the darkest of moments, there is still beauty to be found.
Line by Line Meaning
I was feelin' important, feelin' in control
I was confident and in charge of my life
Felt like everywhere I went, folks say "There he goes."
People recognized my accomplishments and admired me
I was beaming like a noon day sun, my ducks all in a row
I was very happy, and everything seemed to be going perfectly
When suddenly all in a flash, I saw it was not so
Suddenly, I realized that things were not as perfect as they seemed
I use to walk around a lot, feeling pretty small
I once lacked confidence and felt insignificant
People said you're not so bad, so I stood up tall
People gave me encouragement, so I gained confidence
And my inner Napolean said you can have it all
I began to feel like I could achieve anything I wanted
I hit a curb and strained a nerve and headed for a fall
I had a setback and started to struggle
Well how I am a lonely mole back in the underground
Now, I feel alone and insignificant again
Dig bigger hills of little hills 'cause I'm so tightly wound
I'm overreacting to small problems because I'm stressed
Really am I all that bad taking pennies for the pound
I'm questioning whether I'm really as unsuccessful as I feel
'Cause even from the margins Lord, there comes a holy sound
Even in difficult times, there is still hope and positivity
It ain't goin' my way, ain't goin' my way
Things are not going well for me
There's no denying things ain't flying my way
I can't avoid the fact that I'm struggling
There's no denying things ain't flying my way
I can't avoid the fact that I'm struggling
Contributed by Harper S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.