Hello in There

john prine

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

me and Loretta we don't talk much more
she sits and stares through the back door screen
and all the news just repeat 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 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"