JOHN PRINE - Hello In There

"Hello In There"

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.

[Chorus:]
Ya' know that old trees just grow stronger,
And old rivers grow wilder ev'ry 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 if 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."

[manyponies]

My heart is shattered. I've loved John Prine's music practically my entire life. I can remember when I was just a kid, my oldest sister, Barbara used to listen to him all the time. I'd sit for hours on the hardwood floor in the hallway outside Barbara's closed bedroom door. (Naturally, as a teenager, she didn't want her little sister "invading her privacy") But there was no rule that I couldn't sit outside her door, so there I'd be, head leaned up against her door, singing along to his songs until my butt would get so numb from sitting on the hardwood floor that I'd reluctantly have to get up and take a walk for a little while. But, I'd be oh As soon as I could feel my butt cheeks again.


I've loved his music ever since that time. I'm 60 years old now. Nobody ever wrote better songs than him. His words were so real, so diverse, and the variety of emotions I experienced with his songs will never be replicated by any other musician. We've definitely lost an icon; a legend; someone so down to earth.


Fly high, John. Say hello to Barbara for me. I'm jealous she gets to hang out with you now. But I'm still on the other side of that door, and I'll still be listening to your music, singing along until my butt gets numb. But I'll be back. Yes, I will. Soon as I can feel my butt cheeks again.

[danthebeachman]

I'm so glad you've posted the lyrics to this wonderful song.Thanks!!