The album takes on dual-layer storylines, first as a punk rock balladeer spouting the notion of living life to the fullest with the presumption that there is no future.
The last part of each volume was given over to more contemporary works -- often less than a hundred years old -- included to stress the continuing tradition of the balladeer.
Many different versions of the song have been composed by balladeers over the years, with the lyrics adapted to reflect the political climate at the time of composition.
