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
Machu Picchu
Old Man Luedecke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was climbing the stairs at Machu Pichu
Found my cell phone and tried to reach you
The sun went down on the MacDonald Bridge
I found your carrots in my fridge
There was never a job that I couldn’t find my way out of
I’m just sitting here peeling the labels
Have I lost that little spark that told me I can trust my heart
That beer hits the spot ‘course the spot’s about a mile wide
I’ll kiss your shoulders and kiss your back
And all your special parts I lack
I was sitting in a hot spring in Idaho
Found a digital watch whose time went slow
There was never a song that I couldn’t sing my way out of
I've been hitchin' and campin' and sufferin' in bars
Thinking about more reliable cars
I was ridin' in my sister's car, think I saw this minor star
She was leggy and lean, but didn't seem so special at all
Saw the moon go staggering up my street
He was drunk and lost with his face like meat
I was always weary from the start
Bound my pessimism to my art
With occasional flutterings of a life sized heart
I rode through town pushing a fog before me
Gotta find a city where they all adore me
Fuller Terrace you are the street
You really got me on my feet
I need a day so bright that I could barely speak
And I need that day to last 'bout two or three weeks
I was climbing the stairs at Machu Pichu
Found my cell phone and tried to reach you
The sun went down on the MacDonald Bridge
I found your carrots in my fridge
There was never a song that I couldn't sing my way out of
The lyrics to Old Man Luedecke's song Machu Picchu are a reflection on the complexities of life and relationships. The opening lines describe the singer on a journey to Machu Picchu, where they find their cell phone and try to reach someone, perhaps a loved one. The reference to the MacDonald Bridge, a large suspension bridge in Canada, suggests the singer is either traveling or reminiscing about home. The discovery of carrots in the singer's fridge implies they were away for a while and that their journey has come full circle.
The following verse discusses the singer's current state of mind, questioning whether they've lost their passion for life, losing touch with the spark that motivated them. The mention of beer and peeling labels suggests a certain apathy, or a desire to escape reality. Yet, the singer still clings to the idea that they can find a way out of any situation, as evidenced by the line, "There was never a song that I couldn't sing my way out of."
The final verse touches on the theme of longing, as the singer reflects on their experiences hitchhiking, camping, and suffering in bars. They recount seeing a minor star in their sister's car, accompanied by a moon that "was drunk and lost with his face like meat." Tired from the constant struggles of daily life, the singer dreams of finding a city where they are adored, represented by the street name Fuller Terrace. The song ends with the singer once again climbing the stairs at Machu Picchu, reminding the listener that journeys are cyclical and often follow a familiar path.
Line by Line Meaning
I was climbing the stairs at Machu Pichu
I was once on top of the world, discovering new heights and experiencing new things.
Found my cell phone and tried to reach you
Despite being in a new and exciting place, I can’t help but feel attached to my old life and constantly try to stay connected to it.
The sun went down on the MacDonald Bridge
Life goes on even when we’re not ready for it. The sunset represents the closing of a chapter in our lives and the start of something new.
I found your carrots in my fridge
Small, seemingly insignificant things can bring us back to reality and remind us of what we left behind.
There was never a job that I couldn’t find my way out of
No matter how difficult life may get, I am always able to find a way to overcome it and move forward.
There’s beer in the bag on the kitchen table
Sometimes, we try to escape reality through drinking and other substances, but ultimately it only masks our problems and doesn’t solve them.
I’m just sitting here peeling the labels
I am trying to remove the layers of my own insecurities and fears to uncover my true self.
Have I lost that little spark that told me I can trust my heart
I am questioning whether I have lost the ability to have faith in myself and trust my instincts to guide me in the right direction.
That beer hits the spot ‘course the spot’s about a mile wide
While alcohol can temporarily make us feel better, it can also do more harm than good and create a bigger problem than the one we were initially trying to escape.
I’ll kiss your shoulders and kiss your back
I long for intimacy and connection with someone, but am unable to fully express it or feel it myself.
And all your special parts I lack
I feel inadequate and unable to fully satisfy others in a relationship.
I was sitting in a hot spring in Idaho
I am searching for a place of comfort and solace, but have yet to find it.
Found a digital watch whose time went slow
Time seems to move at a different pace depending on our mental and emotional state, and sometimes it can feel like it’s dragging on endlessly.
There was never a song that I couldn’t sing my way out of
Music is a powerful tool for healing and can help us find our way out of dark places and difficult situations.
I've been hitchin' and campin' and sufferin' in bars
I have been living a nomadic and challenging lifestyle, seeking adventure but also experiencing hardship.
Thinking about more reliable cars
Even in the midst of all my challenges and wanderlust, practicality and stability still weigh on my mind.
I was ridin' in my sister's car, think I saw this minor star
Despite being surrounded by all these new experiences and sights, I still find myself seeking out and recognizing familiar things from my old life.
She was leggy and lean, but didn't seem so special at all
Despite initial appearances, things and people aren’t always what they seem and may not hold the promise of greatness or fulfillment that we are seeking.
Saw the moon go staggering up my street
Even celestial bodies like the moon (representing stability and constancy) can appear unstable and unsteady in times of great change and transition.
He was drunk and lost with his face like meat
Even the most stable things can be disheveled and distorted in times of great turmoil and upheaval.
I was always weary from the start
I feel drained and exhausted by the daunting task of constantly trying to adjust to new situations and challenges.
Bound my pessimism to my art
My negative outlook on life has become a source of inspiration for my creative endeavors, allowing me to find meaning and beauty in even the darkest of times.
With occasional flutterings of a life sized heart
Despite my pessimism and cynicism, I still have moments of hope and yearning for love and connection.
I rode through town pushing a fog before me
I often feel like I am walking through life blindly and that my thoughts and emotions are clouded by confusion and uncertainty.
Gotta find a city where they all adore me
I am searching for a place of belonging and acceptance, where I can feel loved and appreciated for who I am.
Fuller Terrace you are the street
I have found a place that feels like home, a street where I belong and am accepted.
You really got me on my feet
This street has given me a sense of confidence and hope, allowing me to stand tall and face my fears head-on.
I need a day so bright that I could barely speak
I am searching for a moment of pure joy and bliss, so overwhelming that words are unable to describe it.
And I need that day to last 'bout two or three weeks
In order to sustain this sense of joy and contentment, I need it to last a prolonged period of time and become a part of my ongoing reality.
Contributed by Joseph N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.