Waltz or something darker?

“My Papa's Waltz” is a poem with a meaning that could be taken to be positive or negative, depending on how you look at it. For instance, the mention of whisky on Papa’s breath seems to imply an alcoholic and the line “But I hung on like death: such waltzing was not easy” brings to mind a grim struggle between life and death. However, there is also a much lighter side. The “palm caked hard by dirt” makes me think of Papa as a hard worker, and the use of playful language such as romp and “waltzing off to bed” make me think of gentler, kinder man having fun with his son.