Ol' Man Mose
The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet Lyrics
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With a very crooked nose
He lived inside a log hut
And they called him ol' man Mose
One dark and dreary morning I knocked upon his door
I didn't hear a single sound
So I ain't gonna do it no more.
I believe ol' man, thatol' man Mose is dead.
I believe ol' man, I believe ol' man
I believe ol' man, that ol' man Mose is dead.
(Now you believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe he's dead)
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe) Mose kicked the bucket
(You believe he's dead)
Now listen here,
I went round to the window
And I peeped in through the crack,
Inside there was an old man
Laying flat upon his back
I thought that he was sleeping
Head hung to the floor
He didn't make a single move
So I ain't gonna do it no more
'Cos I found out ol' man, I found out ol' man
Yeah, I found out ol' man, ol' man Mose is dead
('Cos you found out) ol' man
(You found out) ol' man
(You found out) ol' man
(You found out he's dead)
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(You found out he's dead)
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
(You found out) Mose kickin' up daisies
(You found out he's dead)
Old Man Mose is dead.
The Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet's song "Ol' Man Mose" is a humorous and upbeat tribute to an old man named Mose who lived in a log hut with a crooked nose. The song features a playful, call-and-response chorus with the repeated line "I believe ol' man, I believe ol' man, I believe ol' man, that ol' man Mose is dead." The singer of the song visits Mose one dark and dreary morning but finds no signs of life despite knocking on his door and peeping in through a window. Convinced that Mose has passed away, the singer repeats the chorus with increasing emphasis on the line "Mose kicked the bucket."
While "Ol' Man Mose" is primarily a lighthearted song about death, it also touches on themes of aging, isolation, and mortality. The lyrics suggest that Mose may have been a recluse, with no one checking on him until the singer's visit. The upbeat melody and playful chorus create a contrast with the somber subject matter, highlighting the complexities of human emotions and reactions to death.
Line by Line Meaning
Now one time there lived an old man
Once upon a time there was an old man
With a very crooked nose
He had a nose that was not straight
He lived inside a log hut
He resided in a cabin made of logs
And they called him ol' man Mose
People referred to him as Old Man Mose
One dark and dreary morning I knocked upon his door
On a dark and gloomy morning, I banged on his door
I didn't hear a single sound
He did not respond to my knocking
So I ain't gonna do it no more.
Therefore, I decided not to try again
'Cos I believe ol' man, I believe ol' man
I hold the belief that Old Man Mose has passed away
I believe ol' man, I believe ol' man
I believe that he is, in fact, deceased
I believe ol' man, that ol' man Mose is dead.
I am convinced that Old Man Mose has passed away
Now listen here,
Pay attention now
I went round to the window
I walked over to the window
And I peeped in through the crack,
And I looked through the gap
Inside there was an old man
I saw an elderly gentleman
Laying flat upon his back
He was lying down on his back
I thought that he was sleeping
I initially assumed that he was sleeping
Head hung to the floor
His head was drooping downwards
He didn't make a single move
He did not twitch or stir
So I ain't gonna do it no more
Thus, I decided not to do anything else
'Cos I found out ol' man, I found out ol' man
I have learned that Old Man Mose has passed away
Yeah, I found out ol' man, ol' man Mose is dead
Indeed, Old Man Mose has passed away
(You found out) ol' man
You have discovered that Old Man Mose has died
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
You have learned that Old Man Mose has died
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
You have discovered that Old Man Mose has passed on
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
It has been revealed to you that Old Man Mose has departed
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
You have been informed that Old Man Mose has passed away
(You found out) Mose kicked the bucket
You now know that Old Man Mose has died
(You found out) Mose kickin' up daisies
It has been revealed that Old Man Mose has passed away and is buried in a grave
(You found out he's dead)
You have learned that Old Man Mose has died
Old Man Mose is dead.
Old Man Mose is deceased.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LOUIS ARMSTRONG, ZILNER T. RANDOLPH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind