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
The Drawing Near
Old Man Luedecke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And like a fool, I went and made a pass at her
The golden rule, she came and made a pass at me
And I couldn't let her be
I followed her, through half a dozen dingy bars
To watch her dance, in striped socks and silk scarves
And oh the chance for poor little beery me
'Cause darker still than any night
The first great terror of love's sweet light
The barren wastes of abject fear
Make you ready for the drawing near
Well Montreal, doesn't matter much at all
I studied books, I ate falafel, learned to cook
And even youth can't tip the apple cart of truth
I was a hermit in a kissing booth
She tried to run, to run so far away from me
I rushed too much, and scared her like a such and such
The wild wind howled through our hearts and through our heads
Till love made we's of me's
'Cause darker still than any night
The first great terror of love's sweet light
The barren wastes of abject fear
Make you ready for the drawing near
On the other side of thoughts so dire
I have found the burning fire
on the other side of thoughts so dire, I have found the fire-oh
I have found the fire
Well hearts combine but there's no reason there's no rhyme
I fell for you and every little thing you do
You're poor like me, but educated splendidly
In no small way we're free
'Cause darker still than any night
The first great terror of love's sweet light
The barren wastes of abject fear
Make you ready for the drawing near
Make you ready for the drawing near
Make you ready for the drawing near
The song "The Drawing Near" by Old Man Luedecke is a story of a man who falls in love with a bohemian ambassador. He follows her to dingy bars and watches her dance, fascinated by her quirkiness. However, his love for her also triggers deep-seated fears in him, as he experiences the "barren wastes of abject fear" that come with the first great terror of love. He is willing to pursue his love despite the fear because he has found a burning fire on the other side of his dire thoughts.
In the first verse, the singer describes his initial attraction to the bohemian ambassador, but also regrets making a pass at her. The golden rule comes into play, suggesting he should have waited for her to make the first move. He follows her to different bars and is enchanted by her unique dress and dancing style. However, he also experiences fear and anxiety as he realizes how much he cares for her.
The second verse describes his attempts to win her affections, but also his fear of scaring her away. The wild wind in their hearts and heads symbolizes the turbulence and unpredictability of love. Despite this, the singer is committed to pursuing his love for her because of the hope and fire that it ignites in him.
Overall, "The Drawing Near" is a song about being ready to face the challenges and fears that come with falling in love. The singer is inspired by his love for the bohemian ambassador and the hope of finding something deeper on the other side of his fear.
Line by Line Meaning
Well here she come, bohemian ambassador
The singer describes the arrival of a woman who he thinks is unconventional and has her own unique style.
And like a fool, I went and made a pass at her
Despite knowing better, the singer attempted to flirt with the woman and express his interest.
The golden rule, she came and made a pass at me
Unexpectedly, the woman expressed her own interest in the singer, turning the situation around.
And I couldn't let her be
The artist couldn't resist pursuing the woman after she showed interest in him.
I followed her, through half a dozen dingy bars
The artist trailed after the woman through several unsavory bars and locations.
To watch her dance, in striped socks and silk scarves
The singer admired the woman's unique style as she danced in colorful clothing.
And oh the chance for poor little beery me
The singer was excited at the possibility of something more with this woman.
Did anything but set me free
However, this pursuit only led to more complications and worries for the artist.
'Cause darker still than any night
The artist reflects on the fears and anxieties that come with romantic love.
The first great terror of love's sweet light
The first hurdle in love is often the fear and uncertainty that comes with the beginning stages of a relationship.
The barren wastes of abject fear
The singer compares his emotional state to a desolate and empty landscape of fear and uncertainty.
Make you ready for the drawing near
He believes that facing these fears and uncertainties prepares him for the eventual, inevitable end of the relationship.
Well Montreal, doesn't matter much at all
The singer reflects on how insignificant his location is in the grand scheme of things.
I studied books, I ate falafel, learned to cook
He talks about some of the ways he spent his time, trying to fill the void and distract himself from his emotions.
And even youth can't tip the apple cart of truth
The singer recognizes that even though he is young, he can't escape the harsh realities of life and love.
I was a hermit in a kissing booth
He felt trapped, emotionally closed off, and unable to engage fully in his relationships.
She tried to run, to run so far away from me
The artist's pursuit of this woman scared her and led her to try to escape him.
I rushed too much, and scared her like a such and such
He realizes that his eagerness and intensity pushed her away and scared her off.
The wild wind howled through our hearts and through our heads
The emotions between them were tumultuous and chaotic, and their feelings were overwhelming.
Till love made we's of me's
Eventually, their love grew and the artist became more invested and committed to the relationship.
'Cause darker still than any night
The artist repeats his reflection on the fears and uncertainties that come with love.
The first great terror of love's sweet light
He reiterates that these fears are the first hurdle in the beginning stages of the relationship.
The barren wastes of abject fear
He compares his emotional state once again to a desolate and empty landscape of fear and uncertainty.
Make you ready for the drawing near
He stresses that facing these fears and uncertainties is necessary to prepare himself for the inevitable end of the relationship.
On the other side of thoughts so dire
The singer has come out the other side of his initial fears and anxieties and found something positive.
I have found the burning fire
He has discovered passion and excitement in his relationship despite the challenges that it presented.
on the other side of thoughts so dire, I have found the fire-oh
He repeats and emphasizes that he has come out the other side of his fears and found something positive.
Well hearts combine but there's no reason there's no rhyme
The artist reflects on the irrationality of love and how it can bring two people together for no logical reason.
I fell for you and every little thing you do
He's fallen deeply in love with this woman and is enamored with her quirks and idiosyncrasies.
You're poor like me, but educated splendidly
Despite both being financially struggling, he admires her education and intelligence.
In no small way we're free
He realizes that this relationship has brought him a sense of freedom and liberation.
'Cause darker still than any night
Once again, the artist reflects on the fears and anxieties that come with romantic love.
The first great terror of love's sweet light
He reiterates that the first hurdle in the beginning stages of a relationship is the fear and uncertainty.
The barren wastes of abject fear
He compares his emotional state to a desolate, empty landscape of fear and uncertainty once more.
Make you ready for the drawing near
He reminds himself that facing these fears is necessary to prepare himself for the eventual end of the relationship and whatever comes next.
Make you ready for the drawing near
The song ends with a repetition of the previous line, emphasizing the importance of facing his fears and being prepared for whatever comes next.
Contributed by Ian V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.