The Moment Slipped Away
Christine Lavin Lyrics

She's a famous actress
The woman referred to is a well-known actress

Movies and TV
She is known for her roles in movies and television

I recognize her as we climb
The singer sees the actress as they go up the stairs

The stairs of the IRT
They are climbing the stairs of the IRT subway station in New York City

We cross the street together
They walk across the street at the same time

We're moving up Broadway
The street they are on is Broadway

I'm trying to come up with something
The singer is hoping to say something clever

Clever I can say
Something witty or insightful that will impress the actress

About how I love her work
The singer wants to express appreciation for the actress's work

And what it means to me
The personal impact that the actress's performances have had on the singer

How in her most recent film
The singer wants to specifically highlight the actress's latest movie

She acted brilliantly
The actress's acting was exceptional in the singer's opinion

Maybe she'll think I'm stupid
The singer is worried that the actress may not appreciate or respond well to what they want to say

Maybe this'll make her day
The singer hopes that their comment will brighten the actress's day

But she disappeared into the crowd
The actress goes out of sight and the opportunity to speak to her is gone

And The Moment Slipped Away
The chance the singer had to express admiration for the actress was lost

He works the wards of Bellevue Hospital
The man described works in the hospital in the wards

Mail Delivery
The man's job is to deliver mail in the hospital

For two years every weekday morning
The singer saw this man every weekday morning for two years

He said hello to me
The mailman greeted the singer

We'd joke about the local teams
The two would make jokes about the nearby sports teams

The weather of the day
The mailman and singer would talk about the weather

Though there were many other things
Despite other things the singer would have liked to mention

I really wanted to say
The singer had other conversations they wished to have with the mailman

You see, he wasn't like the rest of us
The mailman was different in some way from other people the singer knew

It was a struggle for him to walk
The mailman found it difficult to walk

And you had to concentrate really hard
It took effort to understand the mailman when he spoke

Just to understand him talk
The mailman's speech was difficult to comprehend

I wanted to ask him
The singer wanted to initiate a deeper conversation

"Where do you get the courage
The singer was curious where the mailman found the strength to do his job despite challenges

To come to work each day?"
The singer wanted to know how the mailman continued to push through difficulties and maintain a daily routine

But I quit that job
The singer eventually left that place of work

I moved along
The singer moved on from that job and location

And The Moment Slipped Away
The singer regrets never having the opportunity to have a more meaningful conversation with the mailman

Kind words don't move the earth
Small acts of kindness don't necessarily have a huge effect on the world

But if it can improve your self worth
However, being kind and encouraging to others can make a positive difference in how you see yourself

Why do I let these moments pass me by
The singer is reflecting on missed opportunities to show kindness and lend encouragement to others

Instead I'm quick to judge
The singer is prone to making quick judgments without considering the other person's perspective or situation

And I'm quick to blame
The singer is also quick to lay blame on others without taking responsibility themselves

I'm quick to criticize
The tendency to criticize and point out flaws in others is a habit for the singer

Quick to maim
The singer may cause harm or hurt others through their actions or words

It's hard to change
Changing these negative habits and behaviors is a difficult process

But I'll try
The singer is committed to making an effort to improve

So maybe it's your best friend
The singer is acknowledging that opportunities to show kindness and encouragement can appear in many different relationships and situations

Or the next stranger you see
These opportunities can also arise with total strangers

Maybe it's your neighbor
The singer cites another example of a person who may benefit from kind words or actions

Maybe it's you
The singer reminds us that we ourselves may need encouragement at times

Maybe it's me
Even the singer admits that they themselves may need kind words or support from others

Who needs to hear encouragement
Everyone can benefit from positive support and reinforcement

To make it through the day
These small acts of kindness can have a significant effect on a person's daily life

Who needs to hear whatever kind words
The specific words themselves may not be as important as the general act of speaking kindly and offering support

You might have to say
The artist may not know specifically what words they need to say, but any sincere message of kindness will do

It doesn't matter where you're going
The opportunity to be kind and supportive to others can happen at any time or place

Or where you have been
Even past mistakes or poor behavior don't negate the potential for future acts of kindness

'Cuz right now is the perfect moment
The present moment is always an opportunity to show kindness and support to others

For us to begin
The singer is urging everyone to take action and begin showing more kindness and encouragement to those around them

To appreciate each other
Through kindness and encouragement, we can come to better appreciate others and the value they bring to our lives

In new and different ways
These acts of kindness and support can take many different forms, and may be experienced in unique and unexpected ways

Oh please don't let another golden Moment
The singer is urging listeners not to let opportunities to show kindness or offer encouragement slip away

Slip Away
These missed opportunities can be lost forever, and the person in question may never know how much they were needed or appreciated

Appreciate each other
Ultimately, the singer is advocating for a more supportive and empathetic society, where we recognize and value the worth of each other as individuals

More and more each day
Showing kindness and encouragement is a practice that should be embraced and pursued daily