John Prine – Hello In There lyrics

He and his wife Loretta are advancing in years. Living alone in their apartment, their children have long since grown and one even lost his life in the Korean war. They used to wonder why he had to die but at this late stage of the game it makes no matter. They are alone together and they are lonesome. He and his wife no longer communicate very often because it seems to have all been said before. Since nothing new ever happens, What is there to talk about? Loretta spends much of her time looking outside watching the world go by while they listen to the news on the radio or maybe a cable new network all day only to seemingly hear the same depressing things over and over again everyday, They are alone and tired. Alone together. The man kids himself that one day he will call up Rudy and talk about the time they had working together before they both retired. He knows he wont. He knows that after all this time there will be little to talk about and would be awkward ("Whats new? Nothing, whats with you?") Silence. Maybe Rudy is alone in his old age also? It is the only thing they have left in common. The bottom line here is that if we are lucky, we will be old some day. We could be lonely too and wouldn't it be nice if someone would stop by and be a bright spot in your day? Stop in to say Hello in there!