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Just Like Old Times
Todd Snider Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's a Coke machine glowin' through the parking lot
Call it a room with a view
This was the best night of pool that I ever shot
I made a lot of money too
I was looking for some company
In the weekly Scene
Seen an ad it just had to be you
I hadn't seen you since New Orleans

And I never did figure out where you ran off to



I know I looked bad the last time you saw me
But lately I been doin' all right
I won a tournament last week in Oklahoma City
Hustled half of this town tonight
I got some cocaine if you want some
It's the best that I could find
Hey we could just sit here and talk all night
If that big ol' guy out in the car don't mind

Like old times
Screw off the top on a bottle of wine
Living out our own kind of American dream
Old times
Your goal was always the same as mine
You didn't want to throw a fishing line in that old main stream

You know I ain't expecting anybody but you
I don't know who this could be at the door
But I'm pretty sure that you got a clue
And I bet that you've been to this hotel before
Put the "you-know-what" In the bathroom but
Don't flush it down just yet
Put your pager in my suitcase
I'll get the window
You light a cigarette
It'll be like

Old times
Just like the old times
Living out our own kind of American dream
Old times
Your goal was always the same as mine
You didn't want to throw a fishing line in that old main stream

No sir officer you don't understand
We're just two old friends drinkin' wine
I'm sure she is but that's not all she is
She's also an old friend of mine
I got her high school picture right here in my wallet, 1982
No sir officer no offense taken
You have a good night, too

Good thing we didn't throw this away, baby
Turn up that radio
I'm pretty sure that cop knew what we were up to
I guess he just decided to let us go
Don't make such a thing about that picture
That was just something I kept
Don't get all sentimental on me now, girl
You haven't even told me what your new name is yet

Old times
Just like the old times
Living out our own kind of American dream
Old times
Your goal was always the same as mine
You didn't want to throw a fishing line in that old main stream

Overall Meaning

The song paints a picture of two old acquaintances reminiscing about their past and indulging in nostalgia while enjoying wine, cocaine, and each other's company in a hotel room. They are reliving their "own kind of American dream" and "living out old times" when their goal was the same- not to conform and throw a fishing line in the old mainstream. In the hotel room, they put on the façade of being two old friends drinking wine and enjoying the night without taking any offense from law enforcement questioning them. With a picture of the woman’s high school days, they discuss how much they have changed since then, and they talk about their experiences in life. The song's central themes are about living your own life, pursuing your goals, and not conforming to societal expectations.


The lyrics are captivating as they create a nostalgic atmosphere, giving listeners a glimpse into these old acquaintances' past. The lyrics reflect on how the past events in our lives shape us and how friendships can endure, even after many years have passed. The song touches upon the idea of living a life of one's choosing rather than following the beaten path.


Line by Line Meaning

There's a Coke machine glowin' through the parking lot
The singer sees a brightly lit Coke machine in the parking lot


Call it a room with a view
The singer jokingly refers to the view of the Coke machine as a scenic view


This was the best night of pool that I ever shot
The singer had a great night playing pool and made a lot of money


I was looking for some company
The artist was seeking someone to spend time with


In the weekly Scene
The artist found an advertisement in a weekly newspaper called the Scene


Seen an ad it just had to be you
The singer assumes that the person he was looking for placed the ad he found


I hadn't seen you since New Orleans
The singer and the person he was looking for had not seen each other since their last encounter in New Orleans


And I never did figure out where you ran off to
The artist is still unsure why the person he was looking for left without any explanation


I know I looked bad the last time you saw me
The artist acknowledges that he was not at his best when the other person last saw him


But lately I been doin' all right
The artist has been doing better recently


I won a tournament last week in Oklahoma City
The singer recently won a tournament in Oklahoma City


Hustled half of this town tonight
The artist has been successful in gambling or pool recently


I got some cocaine if you want some
The singer has some cocaine to offer


It's the best that I could find
The singer believes that the cocaine is of high quality


Hey we could just sit here and talk all night
The singer is open to spending the night talking and catching up


If that big ol' guy out in the car don't mind
The artist hopes that their companion's partner, who is waiting in the car, won't be bothered by their conversation


Screw off the top on a bottle of wine
The artist is preparing to open a bottle of wine


Living out our own kind of American dream
The singer sees their current situation as embodying an American ideal


Your goal was always the same as mine
The singer and their companion share similar goals


You didn't want to throw a fishing line in that old main stream
The artist's companion preferred to do something other than typical American pastimes like fishing


You know I ain't expecting anybody but you
The artist was only expecting to see the person they were looking for


I don't know who this could be at the door
The artist is unsure of who is knocking at the door


But I'm pretty sure that you got a clue
The singer is confident that their companion knows who is knocking


And I bet that you've been to this hotel before
The artist suspects that their companion has been to this hotel before


Put the "you-know-what" In the bathroom but
The singer asks their companion to put something (presumably drugs) in the bathroom


Don't flush it down just yet
The singer asks their companion not to dispose of the drugs yet


Put your pager in my suitcase
The singer asks their companion to store their pager in the singer's suitcase


I'll get the window
The artist will handle opening the window


You light a cigarette
The artist instructs their companion to light a cigarette


It'll be like
The singer anticipates that their current situation will feel like old times


No sir officer you don't understand
The singer is addressing a police officer who has arrived and is questioning them


We're just two old friends drinkin' wine
The artist is trying to convince the police officer that they are simply two friends drinking wine


I'm sure she is but that's not all she is
The artist is implying that their companion is more than just a friend


She's also an old friend of mine
The artist clarifies that their companion is also an old friend


I got her high school picture right here in my wallet, 1982
The singer pulls out their companion's high school picture from their wallet


No sir officer no offense taken
The artist is being polite to the police officer


You have a good night, too
The singer tells the police officer to have a good night


Good thing we didn't throw this away, baby
The singer is relieved that they did not throw something away


Turn up that radio
The singer wants to listen to the radio


I'm pretty sure that cop knew what we were up to
The artist believes that the police officer knew they were doing something illegal


I guess he just decided to let us go
The artist is relieved that the police officer did not arrest them


That was just something I kept
The singer downplays the significance of something they were holding on to


Don't get all sentimental on me now, girl
The singer wants to avoid any emotional moments


You haven't even told me what your new name is yet
The artist is interested to know what name their companion goes by now




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Todd Daniel Snider

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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