Ballad
Paraska And The Mountains Lyrics
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When I'm old, when I'm old
Haul the wrecks down to the wreck yard
Help the boys unload
Keep my hair nice and long
Because I can, because I can
Any of my old friends who have no place to turn to
They know to call me any time they come through
Never die, never die
Stand with a bullwhip in my hand
And rise, rise
In the desert sand
Work days, work nights
Finally get laid up
By a piece of broken glass
On the floor of the shop
And the doctor recognizes me
As the operating theater goes dim
Aren't you that old wrestler with the bullwhip?
Yes sir, that's me, I'm him
Get around fine on one leg
Lose a kidney, then go blind
Sit on my porch in Houston
Let the good times dance across my mind
Never die, never die
Stand with a bullwhip in my hand
And rise, rise
Surrounded by friends
The song "Ballad" by Paraska And The Mountains is a powerful and introspective reflection on aging and the passing of time. The lyrics touch on the desire to keep one's autonomy and strength, even as the body ages and fails. The line "Drive a great big truck / When I'm old, when I'm old / Haul the wrecks down to the wreck yard / Help the boys unload" suggests a yearning to maintain a sense of purpose and usefulness in one's later years, even if it means taking on physically demanding work. The refrain of "Never die, never die / Stand with a bullwhip in my hand / And rise, rise / In the desert sand" reinforces this idea of defiance and resilience in the face of mortality.
The second stanza takes a darker turn, acknowledging the inevitability of physical decline and the possibility of injury or illness. The line "Finally get laid up / By a piece of broken glass / On the floor of the shop" implies a tragic end for the singer, but even in this moment of weakness, they maintain a sense of pride and identity. The mention of being recognized by a doctor as an "old wrestler with the bullwhip" suggests a life lived on one's own terms, even if it means enduring physical harm.
Line by Line Meaning
Drive a great big truck
I want to drive a massive truck for a living.
When I'm old, when I'm old
I hope to still be kicking around when I'm old.
Haul the wrecks down to the wreck yard
I want to transport damaged vehicles to the scrapyard.
Help the boys unload
I want to assist my fellow workers in loading and unloading vehicles.
Keep my hair nice and long
I want to maintain long hair because I like it.
Because I can, because I can
I'll keep my hair long simply because it's possible for me to do so.
Any of my old friends who have no place to turn to
My longtime friends know they can always reach out to me if they need help and have nowhere else to go.
They know to call me any time they come through
These friends know they can call me anytime they're in town.
Never die, never die
I hope to never die and go on living forever.
Stand with a bullwhip in my hand
If I ever find myself in a situation that requires a bullwhip, I want to be prepared.
And rise, rise
I hope to overcome any challenges I face and continue to rise.
In the desert sand
This could be a literal or figurative reference to facing hardship or adversity.
Work days, work nights
I plan to work hard, no matter the time of day.
Finally get laid up
Even hard workers can get hurt and need time off to heal.
By a piece of broken glass
This is an example of an injury that could occur on the job.
On the floor of the shop
I'll likely be working in a shop or garage setting.
And the doctor recognizes me
I'll be known in the community as someone with a reputation.
As the operating theater goes dim
I may end up having to undergo surgery at some point in my life.
Aren't you that old wrestler with the bullwhip?
My reputation precedes me and people know me for my skills and tools.
Yes sir, that's me, I'm him
I am proud of who I am and what I've accomplished in my lifetime.
Get around fine on one leg
Even if I lose a limb, I'll make the most of what I have left.
Lose a kidney, then go blind
I'll keep pushing forward no matter what station life throws my way.
Sit on my porch in Houston
I hope to retire to a peaceful home in Houston.
Let the good times dance across my mind
As I sit and reflect, I'll bask in the good times I've had throughout my life.
Surrounded by friends
Above all else, I hope to have a great circle of friends around me in my later years.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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