I Don't Mind
The Tobasco Donkeys Lyrics


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I am looking, I am searching, I have found
Near the ground, my soul, myself, beneath this trail
There's no other place I'd rather be
Can't you see me out here walking
In the rain and hail
The purpose of life, it seems to me
Is not to take yourself too seriously
I wouldn't want to be an old man
Sitting in an office building someplace
Far away, with worry on my face

Well you can take my car, my stereo, my little money
Leave me with nothing but my trail family
Take my dress up clothes, my cheap cologne, my college loans
I don't mind

I don't mind

Well if that tax man comes looking
I'm at ten thousand feet cooking up some oatmeal
Or some rice and beans
I worship the spirit who doesn't just look down
He looks up and through and all around
Find him in the rocks and trees
Cause there's no reason to pray

When you wake up every day to the sunrise
Over Cito Peak

So find some ground, lace up your boots, start walking
And you will find reason
Enough reason to believe
Well you can drop your worries at the parking lot

Or way down in the city where the sun burns hot
Although civilization is a nice place to visit
I wouldn't want to live there

And just one final paragraph of advice
Don't burn yourself out

Be as I am
It's not enough to fight for the land
It's even more important to enjoy it while you can
While it's still here

So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around
Ramble out yonder, explore the woods, encounter a grizz
Climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep
That yet sweet, lucid air
Sit quiet for a while,
contemplate the precious stillness, that mystery
And awesome space
Enjoy yourself,
keep your brain in your head, and your head attached to your body
Body active and alive
And I promise you this much
I promise you this one sweet victory, over our enemies
Over those desk-bound people with their hearts in a box
And their eyes hypnotized by calculators




I promise you this one sweet victory
You'll outlive the bastards!

Overall Meaning

The Tobasco Donkeys's song "I Don't Mind" is all about finding oneself and being content with what one has. The lyrics "I am looking, I am searching, I have found, Near the ground, my soul, myself, beneath this trail" suggest that the singer has found his identity and purpose of life through his experiences and explorations. He emphasizes the importance of not taking oneself too seriously and finds joy in being out in nature, walking in the rain and hail. There is no worry on his face, and he wouldn't want to be an old man stuck in an office building with a burden of worries.


The lyrics reveal that he values the little things in life and finds peace in the mountains, lakes, rivers and woods. He acknowledges the spiritual connection to nature and believes that no prayer is needed to find the divine. The song also suggests that material possessions do not matter as long as we have our "trail family" and can enjoy the beauty of nature. The singer advises to "get out there and hunt and fish and mess around, Ramble out yonder, explore the woods, encounter a grizz Cry out loud on the crest of a mountain."


Overall, "I Don't Mind" is about finding peace and happiness in life's simple things and exploring the beauty of the world around us.


Line by Line Meaning

I am looking, I am searching, I have found
I have been seeking and exploring, and now I have discovered my true self and purpose.


Near the ground, my soul, myself, beneath this trail
Through immersing myself in nature and the outdoors, I have connected with my inner self.


There's no other place I'd rather be
I am content and fulfilled right where I am, in nature.


Can't you see me out here walking
I am visible and present in nature, enjoying the simple act of walking.


In the rain and hail
I delight in nature's elements, including rain and hail.


The purpose of life, it seems to me
In my life philosophy, the key is to not take oneself too seriously.


Is not to take yourself too seriously
One should not stress too much about the little things or get too caught up in self-importance.


I wouldn't want to be an old man
I do not desire to be an older individual consumed by work or worries.


Sitting in an office building someplace
Working in a dull and mundane office space would not bring me fulfillment.


Far away, with worry on my face
It is not desirable to live a life of stress and anxiety, especially while being removed from nature.


Well you can take my car, my stereo, my little money
Material possessions are not important to me.


Leave me with nothing but my trail family
The community and companionship of my fellow outdoor enthusiasts is more important to me than material goods.


Take my dress up clothes, my cheap cologne, my college loans
Even the things that society deems important, such as fancy clothing and college education, are not crucial to me.


If that tax man comes looking
Even the fear of legal trouble would not deter me from my love of nature.


I'm at ten thousand feet cooking up some oatmeal
I am unbothered by the concept of legal issues and continue to fully immerse myself in the joys of being outdoors.


Or some rice and beans
Having simple and nourishing foods is all I need to survive and be happy.


I worship the spirit who doesn't just look down
I am in awe and reverence of the natural world and the forces that govern it.


He looks up and through and all around
The power of the natural world is vast and all-encompassing.


Find him in the rocks and trees
One can find a divine presence in the very landscapes that surround them.


Cause there's no reason to pray
Prayer is not necessary to connect with the divine power of nature.


When you wake up every day to the sunrise
The natural beauty around me is enough to evoke a sense of wonder and amazement.


Over Cito Peak
The specific mountain I live near inspires me and fills me with joy.


So find some ground, lace up your boots, start walking
To truly connect with nature, one needs to take action and immerse themselves in the environment.


And you will find reason
Through experiencing the natural world, one can find a sense of purpose and fulfillment.


Enough reason to believe
The sense of purpose and fulfillment that nature provides is enough to sustain me and my beliefs.


Well you can drop your worries at the parking lot
Leaving behind material possessions and worries is necessary to fully enjoy the natural world.


Or way down in the city where the sun burns hot
Urban environments do not provide the same level of fulfillment as being in nature.


Although civilization is a nice place to visit
There are some enjoyable aspects of urban living, but it is not where one can find true happiness.


I wouldn't want to live there
Living away from nature would not provide me with the joy and fulfillment that I crave.


Don't burn yourself out
It is important to maintain balance and not overexert oneself in any aspect of life.


Be as I am
Embracing my philosophy and lifestyle is something that could bring others joy and fulfillment.


It's not enough to fight for the land
Protecting the environment is important, but it is also important to fully enjoy and appreciate it while it is still here.


It's even more important to enjoy it while you can
Appreciating and finding joy in nature is crucial, as it may not always be available to us.


So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around
Diving into outdoor activities and having fun is a key aspect of living a fulfilling life.


Ramble out yonder, explore the woods, encounter a grizz
Exploring the natural world can lead to unexpected and exciting experiences.


Climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep
Engaging in physical activities and immersing oneself in nature is important for overall health and happiness.


That yet sweet, lucid air
The air in more natural environments is cleaner and crisper, leading to a sense of purity and refreshment.


Sit quiet for a while
Taking time to be still and absorb the environment can lead to a greater appreciation of the natural world.


Contemplate the precious stillness, that mystery
The beauty and peacefulness of nature is a mystery to be explored and appreciated.


And awesome space
The vastness and expanse of nature is awe-inspiring and humbling.


Enjoy yourself
Having fun and enjoying the moment is important for overall happiness and fulfillment.


Keep your brain in your head, and your head attached to your body
Maintaining both mental and physical health is important for enjoying and living a fulfilling life in nature.


Body active and alive
Physical activity and engaging with nature is crucial for a fulfilling life.


And I promise you this much
Through my own experiences, I can promise this to be true.


I promise you this one sweet victory, over our enemies
Through embracing the love and appreciation of nature, we can overcome any negativity or obstacles.


Over those desk-bound people with their hearts in a box
Living a life disconnected from nature can lead to a loss of passion and enthusiasm.


And their eyes hypnotized by calculators
Over-reliance on technology can lead to a sense of complacency or detachment from the world around us.


You'll outlive the bastards!
By living in nature and finding fulfillment, one can overcome and outlive any negative influences or obstacles.




Contributed by Olivia C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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