Old Man Luedecke (Chris Luedecke) is a singer and banjo player living near … Read Full Bio ↴Old Man Luedecke (Chris Luedecke) is a singer and banjo player living near Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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

Tortoise and the Hare
Old Man Luedecke Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I didn’t like the rat race
I ran away from there
Thought I was the tortoise
Turns out I’m the hate
I ran a rabbit race, came in last place
Ran a bear chase too
All of my running got me worn right through

Got a monkey on my back and a heart attack waiting on the finish line
I ran from competition, can’t blame a guy for trying

I tried to break free but silly me
The track goes round and round
Then like a mole I found a hole, I sought the underground
I root the mountain down
But pound for pound it ended up on me
Like a prisoner bound what I’ve found is I’m digging to be free

Got a monkey on my back and a heart attack waiting on the finish line
I ran from competition, can’t blame a guy for trying

Can’t blame a guy for trying
I think I could be free
I think that I’d go flying
If you would say to me
That you would walk with me

I’m a rabbit in a log hiding from the dog’s thinking about my soul
And you came in and with a grin said we’re staying in the hole
I love you well and know you’re true how long will we stay?
‘Til we rabbits outnumber them, then we’ll have our day”

Got a monkey on my back and a heart attack waiting on the finish line

I ran from competition, can’t blame a guy for trying
I ran from competition, can’t blame a guy for trying

Overall Meaning

In Old Man Luedecke's song "Tortoise and the Hare", the artist laments about the stressful and competitive environment that he had to escape from. He sings about how he thought he was the slow and steady tortoise but instead turned out to be caught up in the fast-paced, rabbit race where he ultimately came in last place. He also compares himself to a prisoner who is digging himself to freedom but ends up trapped by the underground mountain he roots.

Amidst all the chaos, Luedecke finds solace in meeting someone who understands him and makes him feel like he is not alone. He expresses his desire to fly and be free, and wonders if he could achieve that with someone who is willing to walk with him. The imagery of the rabbit hiding in a hole from the dog's pursuit and the notion of the rabbits outnumbering their enemies to ultimately have their day, echoes the message of finding refuge and comfort in companionship while also fighting to break free from the pressures of society.

Overall, "Tortoise and the Hare" is a poignant song that speaks to the universal themes of the struggles of finding one's place in the world and the importance of having someone by your side during hard times.

Line by Line Meaning

I didn’t like the rat race
The singer did not enjoy the competitive nature of society

I ran away from there
The singer chose to remove themselves from this environment

Thought I was the tortoise
The singer believed themselves to be slow and steady

Turns out I’m the hare
In reality, the artist is faster-paced and driven

I ran a rabbit race, came in last place
The artist tried to compete, but was not successful

Ran a bear chase too
The singer attempted to overcome greater challenges

All of my running got me worn right through
The singer became exhausted from all their efforts

Got a monkey on my back and a heart attack waiting on the finish line
The artist feels burdened and stressed from the pressure to succeed

I ran from competition, can’t blame a guy for trying
Despite feeling overwhelmed, the artist does not regret attempting to compete

I tried to break free but silly me
The artist attempted to escape, but found themselves stuck in a cycle

The track goes round and round
The circumstances the singer found themselves in were unchanging and monotonous

Then like a mole I found a hole, I sought the underground
The artist sought a way out of the cycle they were trapped in

I root the mountain down
The singer made significant efforts to escape their situation

But pound for pound it ended up on me
Despite their efforts, the situation remained difficult for the singer

Like a prisoner bound what I’ve found is I’m digging to be free
The singer feels trapped, but is determined to find a way out

Can’t blame a guy for trying
The artist feels justified in attempting to overcome their situation

I think I could be free
The artist believes they can escape and find freedom

I think that I’d go flying
With this freedom, the singer expects to feel a sense of weightlessness

If you would say to me
The singer is looking for someone's support and companionship

That you would walk with me
The artist wants the other person to join them on their journey

I’m a rabbit in a log hiding from the dog’s thinking about my soul
The artist feels vulnerable and is reflecting on their inner self

And you came in and with a grin said we’re staying in the hole
The other person provides comfort and support to the artist

I love you well and know you’re true how long will we stay?
The singer appreciates and trusts the other person, but also wonders how long they will stay safe

‘Til we rabbits outnumber them, then we’ll have our day”
The artist and the other person hope to take control and win in the long run

Got a monkey on my back and a heart attack waiting on the finish line
The singer is still feeling the pressure to succeed

I ran from competition, can’t blame a guy for trying
Despite everything, the singer still believes that taking risks is worth it

Contributed by Natalie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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