Hello In There

we’ve lived in this street now for fifty years

me and Billy liked to live in here

it’s been years since the kids have grown

all have lives of their own

left us alone

John and Linda live in America

Joseph is somewhere on the road

we lost Davie in the Irish war

still don’t know what for

doesn’t matter any more

old trees grow stronger

old rivers grow wilder every day

but old people, they just grow lonesome

waiting for someone to say

say “hello in there,” say “hello”

say “hello, hello”

me and Billy we don’t talk much now

he just sits staring at the tv screen

oh and the news it just repeats itself

like some forgotten dream

that we’ve both seen

maybe someday I’ll phone up my old friend Madge

we worked together at the laundromat

what do I tell her when she asks “What’s new?”,

say “Nothing, what’s with you?

Not much left to do”

old trees grow stronger

and old rivers grow wilder every day

but old people they just grow lonesome

waiting for someone to say

say “hello in there,” say “hello”

say “hello”

say “hello”

so if you’re walking down the street one day

and you spot some hollow ancient eyes

don’t turn around as if you didn’t care

or, worse, stop and stare

say “hello in there”

say “hello”

say “hello”

say “hello”

just say “hello”

just say “hello”

just say “hello”

just say “hello”