Old pigweed

[Rollergirl]

Never really paid attention to this song (the last one on an album which is my second least favourite) but I started to learn playing it on the guitar (I know all the chords...) and started to listen to the lyrics. Very deep (unless it's about soup).
No idea what it's about (unless it's about soup). What's your interpretation of that one? Discuss.

[Pottel]

always been my favorite ragpicker song, and that is my favorite solo album..
although get lucky is a strong contender

[Rollergirl]

I have never really got into that album, but it can still happen! In fact it's happening right now!
and Get lucky is my favourite, no contest!

[Mossguitar]

Old Pigweed is one of his best songs ever, IMO. And the slide guitar is magic! Love that album (too )

[superval99]

RPD has been my favourite solo album too, but is now equal with GL.  Love "Old Pigweed"!   

[Rollergirl]

what's it about in your opinions though? Soup?

[Banjo99uk]

I think he read a recipe for Mulligan Stew and something about having to put fresh pigweed in it or it ruins it.  Hence "who put old pigweed in the mulligan".  He then created characters and a story around it.  I may be wrong but I think it is as simple as that and doesn't have a double meaning.  

If you read the link below it explains why and the era pigweed was used in Mulligan Stew.

http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/food/2009/03/27/eating-in-lean-times/

[superval99]

I think it's a little play on life.  Everything is going just fine, just like making stew, then someone goes and messes it all up - puts a spanner in the works.  It's an analogy, stew/life, someone puts old pigweed into the stew instead of nice new pigweed, and spoils it all!  That's how I see it anyway!  

[Mossguitar]

Yes, I see it in the exactly same way as superval! It's about life.

[Rollergirl]

so it's not about soup then 

I have a similar interpretation, although more specifically, I feel it's about family and the fragile balance between members of a family which is necessary to make it work.

A real gem, in any case. I love it when it happens. You think you know every song by heart and know which ones you love and those you can skip, and then this happens.....

[IrisRose]

Pigweed grows in annoying abundance in my flower beds and garden every June and July.   It's easy to pull up, but there is so much of it.   I've never eaten any, but Old Pigweed tempts me to try.   The species with the red flower head that grows upright, then droops from its own weight is a cultivated flower with the old fashioned name of "Love Lies Bleeding."  There is also a variety with beautiful wine colored leaves and stems.   

[jcser]

I tend to agree with Val, although a lot of his songs seem to be philosophical and allegorical in nature. But then again, as I've said before, sometimes a ham sandwich is just a ham sandwich.

[GennT]

I always loved Old Pigweed,such a great song.I love the part when he sings about "Goulash" which is a traditional dish in my country and it is very delicious.

[Pottel]

you hungarian?

[GennT]

No actually I am from Albania which is in Balkans,"Goulash" seems to have the origin in Hungary (according to Wikipedia) but I think it has been around for a really long time in my country and the other countries around so we are used to eat Goulash often.I don't know if it is that popular in other countries thus Mark mentioning it in Old Pigweed.