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
Jonah & The Whale
Old Man Luedecke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His wife had thrown him out again
They'd moved the country all around
Hit the wall in Fort Mac town
When his wife said she couldn't bear
She said, "You're moving on, I'm staying here"
She said, "Oh my hands are tied"
She said, "Oh my hands are tied"
Jonah cried
Oh Lord, I'm in the belly of the whale
When I try I still fail
It's been a long time of nothing
This old crime of nothing
Thin dime of nothing is killing me
You're not the one who's hands are tied
No one sees the mark of Cain
It's a funny feeling you can't explain
When the boys gave Jonah wider berth
He seemed lower down than the earth
And when he begged and pleaded for another chance
The foreman took a harder stance
He said, "Oh my hands are tied"
Jonah cried
Oh Lord, I'm in the belly of the whale
When I try I still fail
It's been a long time of nothing
This old crime of nothing
Thin dime of nothing is killing me
You're not the one who's hands are tied
With Jonah tossed out on the sea
On suicide sixty-three
When suddenly a blinding light
Shook the car with all its' might
Deep inside he heard a voice
Offering him a final choice
That said, "Let your hands be untied"
It said, "Let your hands be untied"
Jonah cried
Oh Lord, I'm in the belly of the whale
When I try I still fail
It's been a long time of nothing
This old crime of nothing
Thin dime of nothing is killing me
Well I can see my hands are tied
The song "Jonah & The Whale" by Old Man Luedecke is a story about a man named Jonah who seems to have a mark on him, described as the "mark of Cain." This mark is a symbol of rejection and isolation that follows Jonah throughout his life. He moves from place to place with his wife, facing rejection and difficulty with finding work. In Fort Mac town, Jonah's wife decides to stay put while he takes to the road to find work. Eventually, Jonah ends up on a fishing boat where he feels trapped and helpless, likening the experience to being in the belly of a whale. Despite his efforts to turn his life around, Jonah feels like he is failing, and he can't seem to escape his past mistakes.
The song's lyrics are deeply symbolic, with the mark of Cain representing a sense of shame or ostracism that Jonah carries with him. The whale symbolizes his overwhelming sense of powerlessness and his inability to escape the past. Furthermore, the song highlights the theme of forgiveness and redemption, which comes to Jonah in the form of a voice offering him a final chance to let his hands be untied.
Overall, the song is a powerful, introspective piece that reflects on the struggles of life and the desire to find a way out. Through Jonah's story, Old Man Luedecke portrays the importance of letting go of the past, taking control of one's own fate, and finding a way to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Well Jonah bore the mark of Cain
Jonah carried the guilt and stigma of committing a grave sin, just like Cain in the Bible.
His wife had thrown him out again
Jonah's partner had left him once more, and he was battered by moving from one place to another.
They'd moved the country all around
Jonah and his partner had traveled extensively and lived in different places, but things never seemed to improve.
Hit the wall in Fort Mac town
Their journey came to a dead-end in Fort Mac town where they couldn't proceed further.
When his wife said she couldn't bear
Jonah's partner expressed that she could no longer tolerate the difficult life that they carried on living.
She said, "You're moving on, I'm staying here"
Jonah's partner decided to stay at Fort Mac town as Jonah continued his journey alone.
She said, "Oh my hands are tied"
Jonah's partner felt helpless and constrained to make things work between them.
Jonah cried
Jonah expressed his innermost feelings, crying out in distress and hopelessness.
Oh Lord, I'm in the belly of the whale
Jonah feels trapped and confined in a miserable state that he can't escape from.
When I try I still fail
Jonah feels stuck and unable to move on from his current situation despite his efforts.
It's been a long time of nothing
Jonah's life had been stagnant and lacking in growth and progress for an extended period.
This old crime of nothing
Jonah's inaction and lack of change in his circumstances was akin to committing a crime that he couldn't escape.
Thin dime of nothing is killing me
The triviality of his life and the lack of anything significant was slowly draining him of his will to live.
You're not the one who's hands are tied
Jonah felt that someone else was responsible for his situation, but in reality, he was the one that needed to take charge.
No one sees the mark of Cain
Jonah's guilt and inner turmoil were invisible and unnoticed by others.
It's a funny feeling you can't explain
Jonah's emotions were complex and difficult to express.
When the boys gave Jonah wider berth
Jonah's peers avoided him and kept their distance, amplifying his feelings of rejection and isolation.
He seemed lower down than the earth
Jonah felt insignificant and worthless.
And when he begged and pleaded for another chance
Jonah pleaded for a new opportunity and a fresh start.
The foreman took a harder stance
Jonah's situation became more challenging and resistant to change.
He said, "Oh my hands are tied"
The foreman felt helpless and constrained to help Jonah despite his desire to do so.
With Jonah tossed out on the sea
Jonah was thrown into a perilous and uncertain situation.
On suicide sixty-three
Jonah contemplated taking his life at the age of sixty-three.
When suddenly a blinding light
An unexpected and overwhelming event took place.
Shook the car with all its' might
The occurrence was strong enough to rock and shake Jonah's world.
Deep inside he heard a voice
Jonah experienced a voice that spoke to him internally.
Offering him a final choice
The voice gave Jonah an important decision to make that could change his life forever.
That said, "Let your hands be untied"
The voice encouraged Jonah to take control and free himself from his situation.
Jonah cried
Jonah expressed his emotions once again, but this time it was out of relief and freedom.
Oh Lord, I'm in the belly of the whale
Even though he still felt trapped, Jonah was hopeful and optimistic for the future.
When I try I still fail
Jonah was still struggling to make progress, but he had found a new sense of direction in his life.
It's been a long time of nothing
Jonah had lived through a period of stagnation and lack of progress, but that time had passed.
This old crime of nothing
Jonah's previous inaction and lack of change could no longer hold him down.
Thin dime of nothing is killing me
Jonah had moved on from a life of emptiness and triviality to a new and promising existence.
Well I can see my hands are tied
Even though he had taken charge of his life, Jonah was still aware of his limitations and constraints.
Lyrics © MUMMY DUST MUSIC LTD.
Written by: Christopher Rudolf Luedecke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LunchMeat
You are the most under appreciated artist of our day. Thank you for everything you do
Renan Silva
dude that's just so beautiful!
Roxy Diotte
love this guy :) makes me home sick for NS
Nick Patyk
awesome
Kim Harris
hahaha!
Canadians rock
David G
An arousing aquatic adventure!
Paul Jones
I'm in the belly of the whale
Matthew Garnier
#ImNotTheOneWhoseHandsAreTied
Nick Patyk
is this Vermont...