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”