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 Palace is Golden
Old Man Luedecke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But we aint’ got no baby to share it with and this is proving hard
Has something in the water made a mess out of me that we ain’t got no baby
Has something in the well made a mess out of me that we ain’t got no child
Well we try and do it right almost every night, every trick and every vitamin we’re told
In golden afternoons we’re like loving spoons, just tell me where the damn things are sold
Has something in the water made a mess out of me that we ain’t got no baby
Has something in the well made a mess out of me that we ain’t got no child
Well we’ve been to the doctor with the cold cold hands, best not to lay those best laid plans
Nothing seems wrong but the hell inside of emptiness and vanished pride
But all the way back home we'll roll, we'll hide our tear stained eyes
Well may all the strollers roll, but empty yet is ours
I’ll make a lullaby so woeful sad, I’ll make the angels weep
The angels that guard our unborn child will cry themselves to sleep
And then with good faith and with glowing heart, I’ll cure your sorrow deep
As I take my song to that cloudy crib and with our baby creep
And all the way back home will roll, we'll wipe our joyful eyes
Well may all the strollers roll but happiest is ours
The palace is golden and the garden is green our own food grows in the yard
In "The Palace is Golden," Old Man Luedecke sings about a happy home with a palace and a garden, yet this happiness is not complete without a baby to share it with. In the first verse, Luedecke mentions that they have their own food growing in the yard, but they don't have a child to share it with. The chorus then asks why they don't have a baby, speculating if there is something in the water or in the well that made a mess of them. The second verse goes on to describe how the couple tries to conceive every night, follows advice, takes vitamins, but they still don't have a child. They've even been to the doctor, but nothing seems wrong. They feel that emptiness and despair of childlessness.
In the bridge, Luedecke promises to make a lullaby so woefully sad that it will make the angels weep over their unborn child. He'll take his song to that "cloudy crib" and "creep" with their baby. The final verse reiterates their happiness despite not having a child, and they roll back home wiping their tears of joy, wishing the best for all the other strollers but having the happiest home.
The song is a melancholic yet hopeful reflection on the difficulties of infertility and the longing for a child to complete a happy home. It also acknowledges the deep pain and sadness that can come with the experience.
Line by Line Meaning
The palace is golden and the garden is green, our own food grows in the yard
Despite the abundance in life, the couple is unable to conceive and bear a child.
But we aint’ got no baby to share it with and this is proving hard
Having no children to share their lives with has left the couple with a feeling of emptiness and incompleteness.
Has something in the water made a mess out of me that we ain’t got no baby
The couple wonders if there's something in their surroundings that’s causing their infertility.
Has something in the well made a mess out of me that we ain’t got no child
The couple suspects that the water they drink may have something to do with their difficult situation.
Well we try and do it right almost every night, every trick and every vitamin we’re told
The couple has been trying everything they've been advised to do, from taking supplements to following remedies to enhance their fertility.
In golden afternoons we’re like loving spoons, just tell me where the damn things are sold
The couple is searching for information on the best ways to conceive, so they can finally raise and love a child of their own.
Well we’ve been to the doctor with the cold cold hands, best not to lay those best laid plans
Even after seeking medical advice, the couple remains unsure of what to do next and is having second thoughts about their plans for having children.
Nothing seems wrong but the hell inside of emptiness and vanished pride
The tests reveal no physical issues, but the couple is struggling with the emotional pain of not being able to conceive, which has left them feeling helpless and ashamed.
But all the way back home we'll roll, we'll hide our tear stained eyes
The couple is trying to hide their sadness as they return home each time after seeking treatment without really finding a solution to their infertility.
Well may all the strollers roll, but empty yet is ours
Despite seeing other couples with their children, the couple remains childless and their stroller remains empty.
I’ll make a lullaby so woeful sad, I’ll make the angels weep
The singer will create a deeply emotional song about the couple's situation, that will move even the divine beings to tears.
The angels that guard our unborn child will cry themselves to sleep
The couple believes that their future child is being watched over by angels, who share their sorrow of not being able to conceive.
And then with good faith and with glowing heart, I’ll cure your sorrow deep
With a hopeful heart, the singer promises to ease the couple's suffering and bring them solace with his song.
As I take my song to that cloudy crib and with our baby creep
The singer will sing his song of hope and love at the imaginary crib of the couple's future child.
And all the way back home will roll, we'll wipe our joyful eyes
The couple will return home with new hope and light in their hearts, instead of the tears and sorrow they have carried for so long.
Well may all the strollers roll but happiest is ours
Even if other couples have children and strollers to carry them, the couple will finally be content and happy with their life, once they have their own child.
Contributed by Henry J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hans Wurst
I'm an honest man, I've held my tongue
I've watched the morons mingle and get the job half done
Never been to the top, no I've never even tried
My principles and shyness have kept my hands tied
When I see you dear, I lose my breath
My silence and surrender dies a hundred deaths
I need the taste of your foreign tongue
I want first base I want home runs
I never held you but I don't mind trying
Sometimes silence is the same as lying
Ahhh
Oh Surrey girl, I love your rain
To win your love, I'd walk from Maine
I hear you speak, I lose my cool
To win the game, I swear I'll break the rules
You'll never say, "can't we just be friends"
You'll feel my love, when I hit send
I never held you but I don't mind trying
Sometimes silence is the same as lying
Don't let me scare you, don't you be alarmed
There's nothing in my heart ever do you harm
We cannot fail, we must be bold
We'll love these days I swear when we get old
Ah come on love, there's no use crying
Denying this love would just be lying
I never held you but I don't mind trying
Sometimes silence is the same as lying
Ahhh