Post song lyrics that are important to me

written by John Prine
From the 1971 album ‘John Prine’

I love John Prine’s versions of this warm-hearted song, but I first heard it in a live performance by the dream team of Natalie Merchant, Michael Stipe, Billy Bragg and Cara Tivey…

We had an apartment in the city,
And me and Loretta liked living there.
It’s been years since the kids have grown,
A life of their own,
And left us alone.
John and Linda live in Omaha,
And Joe is somewhere on the road.
We lost Davy in the Korean War.
I still don’t know what,
Don’t matter any more.

Chorus:
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.
But what could I say when he asks “What’s new?”
Nothing, what’s with you?
Nothing much to do.

Chorus

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.

written by Aimee Mann
From the 1993 album ‘Whatever’ on Geffen Records

So he’s retired, lives with his sister in a furnished flat
He’s got the suit that he’ll never wear outside without a hat
His hair is white but he looks half his age
He looks like Jimmy Stewart in his younger days

Chorus:

And honestly I might be stupid to think love is love
But I do
And you’ve waited so long
And I’ve waited long enough for you

My mother’s calling from where she’s living up in Troy, Vermont
She tries to tell me a father figure must be what I want
I’ve always thought age made no difference
Am I the only one to whom that’s making sense?

Chorus

The day I met him, he was raking leaves
In his tiny yard

Of course I know that we’ve only got ten years or twenty left
But to be honest, I’m happy with whatever time we get
Depending on whichever book you read
Sometimes it takes a lifetime to get what you need

Chorus twice

Written by Kitson/Kitson
From the 1990 album ‘Hopes & Bodies’ on Virgin Records

She’s looking nice, washed hair and perfume
And she’s mentioned his name twice just casually.
She’s late tonight and you wonder
Why she can’t face what you’ve cooked and how nonchalant she looks
When you mention that he called just after three.

It’s the little things, the little things,
Like the brittle sound her voice had on the phone.
It’s the little things, two coffee cup rings
That you found when you got home,
She told you when you phoned
That she’d been drinking coffee all alone.

You wouldn’t mind, you like her old friends,
You suggest a dinner date: you, her and him.
She thinks he’s out, she’ll try to phone him,
And she thinks she has the number so she roots around her bag,
She’s not sure, but she thinks he won’t be in.

It’s the little things, the little things,
The hand you touch is cold and hard as stone.
It’s the little things, unfamiliar tunes she sings
In a strangely happy tone, and the crumpled note that’s thrown
Beneath the bed where she’s been sleeping all alone.

Little things becoming everything, little stories turning into lies,
Little things, when the phone goes dead after two rings,
And the little tears falling from her eyes.

It’s the little things, the little things,
She jumps up and she says she has to go,
It’s the little things, the little things,
Like how little you knew you loved her so.

A B-side of Don’t Come The Cowboy With Me Sonny Jim!

I’m staying home this evening
And playing my guitar
And all the time I’m strumming
I’m wondering where you are
Oh yes I know it’s over
I know I shouldn’t care
But I can’t get away from you
It seems you’re always there

How come I don’t see you anymore?
How come we lost the magic touch?
Why can’t I pick up the telephone
When I want to call you so much?
Who’s going to make me forget you
And get you off my mind?
I could be out breaking other people’s hearts
If you weren’t still breaking mine

The winter’s drawing in again
Another year has passed
Now I think of things I meant to say
But the time went by so fast
I hear you’re living in New York these days
And you don’t come here any more
I keep asking myself so many questions
But lately I wonder what I’m wondering for

Who’s going to make me forget you
And get you off my mind?
I could be out breaking other people’s hearts
If you weren’t still breaking mine

I let you pass me by
I never tried too hard
Though you’ll never see me cry
You really made your mark

How come I don’t see you anymore?
How come we lost the magic touch?
And why can’t I pick up the telephone
When I want to hear your voice so much?
Who’s going to make me forget you
And get you off my mind?
I could be out breaking other people’s hearts
If you weren’t
If you weren’t still breaking mine

written by Michael Wallis
A minor UK hit single in 1991. From the album ‘Boing!!’ on Korova Records

I only love you cos you don’t love me
I only want what I can’t have
You’re playing games with me
Can’t you see you’re driving me mad

Chorus:

It’s funny how the girls you fall in love with never fancy you
Funny how the ones you don’t do
It’s a pity how the pretty girls don’t take the time to talk to me
Just walk away whatever I do

Just wanna hold you, feel your breath on my face
I’ll bring you flowers every day
I’ve tried a thousand times
You never hear a word that I say

Chorus

Don’t pass me up again cos I’m not that tough
Haven’t you seen me suffer enough?

Repeat chorus to fade