Album: John Prine (1971)

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• We had an apartment in the city
  Me and Loretta liked living there
  Well, it'd been years since the kids had grown
  A life of their own, left us alone
  
  John and Linda live in Omaha
  And Joe is somewhere on the road
  We lost Davy in the Korean war
  And I still don't know what for, don't matter anymore
  
  You know that old trees just grow stronger
  And old rivers grow wilder every day
  Old people just grow lonesome
  Waiting for someone to say, "Hello in there, hello"
  
  Me and Loretta, we don't talk much more
  She sits and stares through the back door screen
  And all the news just repeats itself
  Like some forgotten dream that we've both seen
  
  Someday I'll go and call up Rudy
  We worked together at the factory
  What could I say if he asks "What's new?"
  "Nothing, what's with you? Nothing much to do"
  
  You know that old trees just grow stronger
  And old rivers grow wilder every day
  Old people just grow lonesome
  Waiting for someone to say, "Hello in there, hello"
  
  So if you're walking down the street sometime
  And spot some hollow ancient eyes
  Please don't just pass 'em by and stare
  As if you didn't care, say, "Hello in there, hello" Writer/s: John Prine
  Publisher: Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

• Tunk from Unionville NyThank you for this webpage, and for this background on such a beautiful song. Miss you, Johnny.
  
• Ken I from IllinoisI was very lucky to have discovered for myself John Prine, Steve Goodnan( City of New Ooleans), David Bromberg...and so many more back I 1968 when I lived in Chicago. They all played at folk clubs like Earl of OldTown, Fifth Peg and Quiet Knight. Magic time in folk music and magic times in Chicago for me. Ken
• Occamsshaver from MaI was very fortunate to have seen John Prine perform in Nashville on New Year's Eve 2019-2020. He played for approximately 3 hours with such personality and energy. He was dancing at midnight! My wife and I were in town and it was dumb luck when I looked on StubHub to see what shows were going on. Our first, and sadly, last time ever seeing Mr. Prine. Marty Stuart and his band were excellent, and the acoustic duo that opened was really good, and frankly were all icing on the delicious cake.
• Ed W. from Reno NvJoan Baez has a nice tribute version of this Prine song on YouTube. From her kitchen.
• Anonymous from Outer MongoliaIt is interesting Now that John Prine has passed, to see all the folks who somehow missed one of the the greatest singer song writers of the past 100 years.
  I am glad he is getting the wide spread recognition he deserved ,just unfortunate that som many "woke folk" never knew about his incredable song writing skills sooner
• Dp457 from CanadaHow naive I am or not stopping to smell the roses. It takes a pandemic to discover these artists - heck, there out there!
  It was a recent FB post of an ole army buddy that describes how he can only see his Paps behind a window in ole folks home. There is a photo of his dad, and link to this song.
  I can relate to John story about newspaper route. I use to deliver papers in early 80s, and would meet few nice old folks that would take a moment to have conversation- more me listening or answering questions.
  Great songs John Prine - Rest In Peace.
  

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