This Old House
Clemens Rumpf and David A. Tobin Lyrics


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This old car, was once brand new
On the day, that you were born
But sixteen years, have rolled right through
And soon you'll drive me on your own

Sixteen years is young for you
But cars don't age so well
My door hinge speaks, repairs to do
But I've got this life of tales to tell

A tiny babe came home one day
Through the newly fallen snow
They brought you home and on the way
I knew we had some miles to go

There were Christmas trees for all those years
And they shed their trace of pine
And there's drops of milk and your young tears
Where you spilled your cup and started crying

And the grass stains here are soccer greens
And there's sand from castle beach
There's a Starburst lost from Halloween
That fell down through beneath the seats

Back and forth to every lesson
Building what you know
There was something gained for every mile
Like a seed you plant and hope may grow

Well, you had your place in that back seat
As you grew from grade to grade
Your time back there is now complete
When you're free to drive, you've got it made

And the roads out there are to make your choice
And decide which way to steer
You'll be on your own, I have no voice
At least not the kind that ears can hear

You now have your longest highway
Still in you to go




Yeah, but all I need, for all I gave
Is to see you live, so take it slow

Overall Meaning

The song "This Old House" by Clemens Rumpf and David A. Tobin is a poignant and nostalgic look at the passing of time through the lens of a car. The lyrics describe a car that was once new, but has now aged as the driver has grown up over sixteen years. Although the car is showing signs of wear and tear, it has a lifetime of memories and stories to tell.


The first verse sets the scene by describing how the car was once new on the day that the driver was born. Sixteen years have now passed, and the car has aged along with the driver. However, the car's age is contrasted with the youthfulness of the driver, highlighting the bittersweet nature of growing up. The second verse describes the memories that the car holds, including the day that the driver came home from the hospital as a newborn, and the many Christmas trees and spilled cups of milk that have marked the passing years.


The final verse acknowledges that the driver is now ready to strike out on their own and make their own choices, without the guidance of the car's owner. However, the owner still hopes to see the driver take things slow and savor the journey. The song's overall message is one of gratitude and a recognition of the passing of time, and how even the most ordinary objects can hold deep meaning and memories.


Line by Line Meaning

This old car, was once brand new
This car was once new, but it has aged over time.


On the day, that you were born
The car was already in existence when you were born.


But sixteen years, have rolled right through
You have grown up over the last sixteen years.


And soon you'll drive me on your own
You will soon be driving this car by yourself.


Sixteen years is young for you
You are still young at sixteen years old.


But cars don't age so well
Cars tend to age quickly and require repairs as they get older.


My door hinge speaks, repairs to do
The car needs repairs, and the door hinge is making a noise.


But I've got this life of tales to tell
The car has a lot of stories to tell, having been through many experiences.


A tiny babe came home one day
When you were born, you were brought home in this car.


Through the newly fallen snow
It was snowing on the day you came home from the hospital.


They brought you home and on the way
You were brought home in the car, and there were many miles to go.


I knew we had some miles to go
The car knew that it would be taking you on many journeys over the years.


There were Christmas trees for all those years
You have spent many Christmases in this car, transporting Christmas trees.


And they shed their trace of pine
The Christmas trees left traces of pine needles in the car.


And there's drops of milk and your young tears
There are spilled drops of milk and tears from when you were a baby.


Where you spilled your cup and started crying
You spilled your cup and cried in the car when you were a baby.


And the grass stains here are soccer greens
There are grass stains in the car from transporting you to and from soccer games.


And there's sand from castle beach
There is sand in the car from trips to the beach.


There's a Starburst lost from Halloween
There is a piece of candy lost in the car from Halloween.


That fell down through beneath the seats
The candy fell down beneath the seats and has not been found.


Back and forth to every lesson
The car has transported you to and from every lesson you have taken.


Building what you know
You have learned and grown from every lesson you have taken.


There was something gained for every mile
You gained something from every mile you traveled in this car.


Like a seed you plant and hope may grow
Traveling in this car has been like planting a seed of knowledge and growth.


Well, you had your place in that back seat
You had a specific spot in the back seat of the car as you grew up.


As you grew from grade to grade
You grew and progressed in your education over time.


Your time back there is now complete
Your time in the back seat of the car has come to an end.


When you're free to drive, you've got it made
You will have more freedom and independence when you can drive yourself.


And the roads out there are to make your choice
You will have many choices and decisions to make when driving on the road.


And decide which way to steer
You will have to make decisions about the direction you want to go in this car.


You'll be on your own, I have no voice
You will be driving the car, making your own decisions, without the guidance of others.


At least not the kind that ears can hear
The car may not be able to speak, but it will always be a part of your memories.


You now have your longest highway
You have a long journey ahead of you as you continue to grow and learn.


Still in you to go
You still have a lot of growth and progress ahead of you.


Yeah, but all I need, for all I gave
The car gave you a lot over the years, but all it needs is for you to live your life.


Is to see you live, so take it slow
The car wants to see you live your life to the fullest, but to also take your time and enjoy the journey.




Lyrics © SOROKA MUSIC LTD.
Written by: DAVID WILCOX

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Roberta Carvalho

I've been listening to this track for years and still love it!

Ⰴⰰⰿⰻⰰⱀ Ⰴⰰⱃⰽ

Amazing tune!

lucky phakula

Still bangs in 2022

MIGUEL LOURENÇO

TOP *****

master 82575

nice