Hello In There

by John Prine
originally from the album "The Divine Miss M"

Had an apartment in the city.
Me and Loretta liked living there.
It's been years since the kids have grown,
A life of their own, left us alone.

John and Linda live in Omaha.
Joe is somewhere on the road.
We lost Davy in the Korean war.
I still don't know what for, don't matter any more.

Ya' know that old trees just grow stronger,
old rivers grow wilder every day,
but old people, they just grow lonesome
waiting for someone to say,
"Hello in there. Hello"


Me and Loretta , we don't talk much now.
She sits and stares at the backdoor 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.
Ah, but what could I tell him if he asks what's new?
Say, "Nothing, what's with you?
Nothing much to do."

You know that old trees just grow stronger,
old rivers grow wilder every day,
but old people, they 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,
don't you pass 'em by and stare
like you didn't care.
Say, "Hello in there. Hello."
Say, "Hello in there. Hello."