Grandpa Was Just Like That

Grandpa Was Just Like That
Mike Manuel Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Pointed toe boots
Starched khaki pants
A smile as big as that old straw hat

Down at the cafe, at a half past four
He's wait for the waitress to unlock the door
His hearing was gone
His vision was dim

But he's smile just in case you where talking to him
He was a stranger outside of his town
But, down at the cafe they all knew him well

Grandpa was just like that
And he left a mark on the people he met
Folks say he had somethin' that money can't buy
And i'm glad I know what it was
Cause the only day he stayed away from that cafe
Was Sunday
Cause that was the lords

He's wrote me a scripture and he say now
Here's what that means
A sinner is somethin' you don't have to be
Then he'd give me a quarter that he called two bits

Yeah grandpa was just like that
And when it was his time to pass from this life
He smiled real big and just closed his eyes
Now somewhere in heaven
Down some street of gold
In a cafe he sit.
Where he'll never grow old

Grandpa was just like that
And he left a mark on the people he meet
Folks say he had Somethin' that money can't buy
And i'm glad I know what it was
Cause the only day he stayed away from the cafe
Cause that was the lords

He was a stranger outside of his town
But up in heaven they all know him well


Overall Meaning

The song "Grandpa Was Just Like That" by Mike Manuel is a heartwarming tribute to his grandfather who left an indelible mark on the people that he met. The song is all about the personality and character of his grandfather; a man who was well-loved by everyone he met, he was charismatic, kind, and incredibly generous. The opening lines of the song describe the appearance of the singer's grandfather. He wore pointed toe boots, starched khaki pants, and a straw hat, which was a trademark of his look. The mention of his grandfather's attire gives an idea of him being from an era that is bygone now.


The song goes on to describe how his grandfather used to frequent a cafe every day at half-past four. Despite being hard of hearing and partially blind, he would smile just in case someone was talking to him. The lyrics paint a picture of a charming and friendly man who was a stranger to outsiders but known and loved by everyone in his small town. The song highlights his grandfather's values and principles as his grandfather's Christian faith was an integral part of his life. He took Sunday as a day of rest and worship, and would not go to the cafe. He would also share his faith with his grandchildren, quoting scriptures and doling out a quarter, which he called two bits, as a token.


The essence of the song is that his grandfather had a special quality that left a lasting impression on the people that he met. He gives credit to his grandfather for instilling in him the significance of kindness, love, and faith. The song's closing stanza paints a picture of his grandfather sitting in a cafe in heaven, where he will never grow old. The song's lyrics show the deep admiration that the singer has for his grandfather, and the mark that he left on his life and the lives of people around him.


Line by Line Meaning

Pointed toe boots
He had a distinctive pair of boots with pointed toes.


Starched khaki pants
His pants were always perfectly pressed and made of khaki fabric.


A smile as big as that old straw hat
He had a large, warm smile that reminded people of his favorite straw hat.


Down at the cafe, at a half past four
He could be found at the local cafe every day at 4:30pm.


He's wait for the waitress to unlock the door
He would wait patiently for the waitress to arrive and unlock the cafe door each day.


His hearing was gone
He had lost his hearing and had difficulty communicating.


His vision was dim
He had poor eyesight and could not see well.


But he's smile just in case you where talking to him
He would still smile even if he could not hear or see someone who was speaking to him.


He was a stranger outside of his town
He was not well-known outside of his hometown.


But, down at the cafe they all knew him well
He was a regular at the cafe and was well-known and respected by the locals.


Grandpa was just like that
He had many unique qualities and habits that made him stand out.


And he left a mark on the people he met
He had a positive impact on those he interacted with.


Folks say he had somethin' that money can't buy
People believed that he had a special quality that was more valuable than money.


And i'm glad I know what it was
The singer is happy to know what that special quality was.


Cause the only day he stayed away from that cafe
He never missed a day at the cafe except for Sundays.


Was Sunday
Sundays were the only days he did not go to the cafe.


Cause that was the lords
He did not go to the cafe on Sundays because he believed it was important to honor the Lord on the Sabbath day.


He's wrote me a scripture and he say now
He had written a Scripture passage for the singer and was now explaining its meaning to them.


Here's what that means
He was about to explain the meaning of the Scripture passage he had written for the singer.


A sinner is somethin' you don't have to be
The Scripture passage he wrote for the artist emphasized that people do not have to be sinners.


Then he'd give me a quarter that he called two bits
He would give the artist a coin that he referred to as 'two bits' after explaining the Scripture passage to them.


And when it was his time to pass from this life
When he passed away from this world,


He smiled real big and just closed his eyes
He died with a smile on his face and peacefully closed his eyes.


Now somewhere in heaven
He is now in heaven.


Down some street of gold
He is walking on a street made of gold in heaven.


In a cafe he sit.
He is sitting in a cafe in heaven.


Where he'll never grow old
He will never age or grow old in heaven.


But up in heaven they all know him well
He is well-known and beloved in heaven as he was in his hometown.


Contributed by Madelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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