Had an apartment in the city
Me and Loretta like livin' there
It's been years since the kids have grown
Lifes of their own
Left us alone
John and Linda live in Omaha
Joey's somewhere on the road
We lost Davie in the Korean war
Still don't know what for
Don't matter anymore

You know 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 back door screen
All the news just repeats itself
Like some forgotten dream
That we'd both seen
Someday I'll go and call up Rudy
We worked together at the factory
What will I tell him if he asks "What's new?"
"Nothing, what's with you? Nothing much to do."
You know old trees just grow stronger
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
Spot some hollow ancient eyes
Please don't pass them by and stare
Like you don't care, say, "Hello in there, hello."
Say, "Hello in there, hello"