Old Man Lyrics
A pair of hard working hands
Everything that I needed
I got it from the old man
With a nine second dream
He drove the Redlight Bandit
And the grease on his hands
Was the way he commanded
And the life he demanded
It kept us all in a struggle
When he ruled with his fist
It kept us all out of trouble
Even though he would leave
He wore his heart on his sleeve
And by the way that he walked
He taught me how to believe
Old man look at my life
Take a look, take a look
Old man look at my life
Cause I’m a lot like you
Old man, old man take a look at my life
Take a look, take a look
Old man, old man take a look at my life
Cause I’m a lot like you
He had a reason for being fast
His heart felt like breaking
He’d look right up at the ceiling and
Start again, never breathe a word of his loss
Cause it’s not about winning
It’s the rivers you cross
And the pain that you feel
Could be the fuel that you use
And if you’re in need of direction
Be it the path that you choose
My old man is a legend
He cast a shadow so great
I think of how he is watchin’
With every move that I make
Old man look at my life
Take a look, take a look
Old man look at my life
Cause I’m a lot like you
Old man, old man take a look at my life
Take a look, take a look
Old man, old man take a look at my life
Cause I’m a lot like you
Now there’s no slowin’ down
There’s only settin’ the pace
No more dreams to be stolen
Just the right ones to chase
You’ve been through the worst
Now you know who to trust
Leave them something behind
Before the ashes and dust
Old man look at my life
Old man, old man take a look at my life
Cause I’m a lot like you
Old man, old man take a look at my life
Cause I’m a lot like you
Old man, old man take a look at my life
Take a look, take a look
Old man, old man take a look at my life
Cause I’m a lot like you
Old man, old man take a look at my life
Take a look, take a look
Old man, old man take a look at my life
Cause I’m a lot like you
About
“Old Man” was written by Mark ‘Kazzer’ Kasprzyk about a falling out he’d had with his father, originally set to be titled “Hardworking Hands”.
Kazzer heard Neil Young’s 1972 song “Old Man” on the radio one day and was inspired to write this song, with no plans of ever releasing it. However, when his record label heard it and loved it, they reached out to Young’s people for permission to sample his original track. It was rejected initially, without Young even listening to Kazzer’s song. But when the president of Hollywood Records convinced him to listen, Young approved Redlight King’s use of his recording.
It reached the top 20 on two Canadian rock charts, and the top 30 on three US rock charts in 2011.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
As “Old Man” was finding success on radio in North America, songwriter Mark ‘Kazzer’ Kasprzyk told The Hamilton Spectator:
It might come across as arrogant, but I always knew (Neil Young would) like (my version). He checks in with us every couple weeks to see how the song’s doing. He’s really into it. It’s thrilling, I’m a big Neil Young fan. It’s important. I think it introduces a guy like Neil Young to a whole new generation of listeners. Kids are going to know where it comes from.
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- 4.City Life
- 5.Comeback
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- 10.Past The Gates
