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
Down the Road
Old Man Luedecke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh we found a needle and thread as fine we could sew
We sewed our hearts together and down the road we go
But our idle hands have pulled the seems that embroider our two hearts
And cupid runs for cover, when the fighting starts
Surprised by our anger, we are angry at surprise
We built our love along a well known fog line
No matter how we know each other, we don’t seem to learn
That when illusions tumble, we rush into a blind turn
Down the road, down the road I am following your sad eyes
All the way, all the way from a castle filled with white lies
Down the road, down the road, down the road
Is our genius just the meanest words that each of us can find
And every single thing we say chokes our hearts and minds
You look so good when you’re angry, you look good enough to eat
But every single thing I say brings on a hellish heat
Down the road, down the road I am following your sad eyes
All the way, all the way from a castle filled with white lies
Down the road, down the road, down the road
As lovers go, we are storm tossed, rainbows tell us we’re not lost
Lying and crying till the thunder rumbling fades
We lie exhausted from horrible charades
Down the road, down the road I am following your sad eyes
All the way, all the way from a castle filled with white lies
Down the road, down the road, down the road
Down the road, down the road
Old Man Luedecke's song "Down the Road" is a poignant reflection on the ups and downs of a romantic relationship. The first two lines of the song paint a picture of two people deciding to commit to each other and embark on a journey together. The use of the metaphor of sewing their hearts together is a powerful imagery that conveys the sense of binding they feel towards one another. However, as the song progresses, the lyrics reveal the strain and stress that such a commitment can bring. "Our idle hands have pulled the seams that embroider our two hearts" is a metaphor for the tension and conflict that can unravel a relationship's fabric. "Cupid runs for cover when the fighting starts" is a poetic way of expressing the sense that love is often lost in the chaos of arguing, bickering, and misunderstanding.
The chorus of the song, "Down the road, down the road, I am following your sad eyes, all the way, all the way, from a castle filled with white lies" is a haunting refrain that speaks to the sense of distance and disconnect that can arise in a relationship. The idea of a "castle filled with white lies" is a metaphor for the falsehoods and illusions that can come between two people. "Is our genius just the meanest words that each of us can find? And every single thing we say chokes our hearts and minds" is a devastating image of how two people who once loved and found joy in one another become consumed by negativity and acrimony.
The final verse of the song offers a somber but hopeful note. "As lovers go, we are storm-tossed, rainbows tell us we're not lost" is a beautiful metaphor that captures the sense of the journey and how even in the midst of turmoil, there is hope that things will get better. The final lines of the song suggest that even though the relationship has been fraught with tension and pain, the two people still care for one another deeply. "We lie exhausted from horrible charades" is a metaphor for how their attempts to hurt each other have left them both feeling drained and defeated.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh we found a needle and thread as fine we could sew
We found the best tools we could to mend our relationship
We sewed our hearts together and down the road we go
We made a commitment to each other and continue on our journey together
But our idle hands have pulled the seems that embroider our two hearts
Our careless actions have damaged the bond between us
And cupid runs for cover, when the fighting starts
Even love itself can’t stop the conflict between us
Surprised by our anger, we are angry at surprise
We are both caught off guard by the intensity of our emotions, and as a result, become more upset
We built our love along a well known fog line
Our love is shrouded in uncertainty and ambiguity
No matter how we know each other, we don’t seem to learn
Despite knowing each other deeply, we continue to make the same mistakes
That when illusions tumble, we rush into a blind turn
When our fantasies and delusions about love dissipate, we make impulsive decisions
Is our genius just the meanest words that each of us can find
We use cruel language in order to express ourselves
And every single thing we say chokes our hearts and minds
Our words weigh heavily on us and affect us emotionally
You look so good when you’re angry, you look good enough to eat
Even when we’re furious with each other, we still find each other attractive
But every single thing I say brings on a hellish heat
Despite our physical attraction, our words ignite flames of anger between us
As lovers go, we are storm tossed, rainbows tell us we’re not lost
Our relationship is tumultuous, but moments of calm reassure us that we’ll make it through
Lying and crying till the thunder rumbling fades
We lay together, post-fight, until the tension and anger dissipates
We lie exhausted from horrible charades
The constant bickering and fighting has left us drained and demoralized
Down the road, down the road I am following your sad eyes
Despite the struggles, I am committed to following you through good times and bad
All the way, all the way from a castle filled with white lies
We’ve left behind a facade of perfection and are now facing our relationship’s realities
Down the road, down the road, down the road
We will continue along our path, facing each challenge as it comes
Contributed by Zachary S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
JosephJamesScott
Love this stuff Old Man Luedecke! I heard you on the CBC and I couldn't get your song out of my head. I think I've played all your YouTube videos a dozen times now :)
Col_in_Hellifax
Just discovered this dude yesterday. Can't stop listening now.
fleumaticojoe
Beautiful music, that's what it is! Keep on old Luedecke!
yourgoes
long live the banjo, great tune! Thanks again CBC
Beverly McCormick
Great songwriter. I love your music. Thank you.
maggie dales
fabulous stuff, love it, I also play your videos over and over again
Jesse Ferguson
Lovin' these vids--more, please!
Eniko Galgoczi
Love this song! :o) Great vid quality too!
Kim Harris
When this was made I had just had my youngest son and was home nursing and stuff.
I am sad I missed live music for a while but wouldn't trade raising my kids for it.
Now two of them are old enough to come watch it with me so it all circles back.
Le Zblugg
Will be at the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield, QC in November. And so will I. Watching. Listening. Tapping my feet. Just enjoying every bit of it.