Old Folks
Company/Elly Stone Lyrics

The old folks don't talk much
Elderly people tend to be reserved and don't say much

And they talk so slowly when they do
When they do speak, it is usually at a slow and deliberate pace

They are rich, they are poor, their illusions are gone
Regardless of financial status, they have come to terms with reality

They share one heart for two
They have a deep connection; it's as if they share one heartbeat

Their homes all smell of thyme, of old photographs
Their living spaces have a distinct aroma and are filled with old pictures

And an old-fashioned song
The music they listen to is from a bygone era

Though you may live in town, you live so far away
Even if you live close by, you'll never truly understand their situation

When you've lived too long
After a certain point, age starts to take its toll

And have they laughed too much, do their dry voices crack
They might have laughed too much over the years, causing their voices to crack

Talking of times gone by
When they speak, it is usually about their memories

And have they cried too much, a tear or two
They may have shed too many tears, causing their eyes to always seem watery

Still always seems to cloud the eye
Tears tend to come easily for them, bringing with it a certain emotional weight

They tremble as they watch the old silver clock
Seeing the clock makes them feel anxious, as if time is running out

When day is through
When the day is over and darkness falls

It tick-tocks oh so slow, it says, 'Yes,' it says, 'No'
The clock seems to be taunting them, showing them how much time they have left

It says, 'I'll wait for you'
The clock is a reminder that time stops for no one

The old folks dream no more
Their dreams for the future have long since faded

The books have gone to sleep, the piano's out of tune
Their possessions are no longer used or maintained

The little cat is dead and no more do they sing
All the things that brought them joy are long gone

On a Sunday afternoon
A time when they might have spent with family and loved ones, which no longer occurs

The old folks move no more, their world's become too small
Their physical movements have become limited, and their world has shrunk

Their bodies feel like lead
Their movements are slower and more difficult, as if their bodies are weighed down

They might look out the window or else sit in a chair
Their everyday activities are now limited to looking out the window or sitting in a chair

Or else they stay in bed
They might be bedridden, unable to leave their bed

And if they still go out, arm in arm, arm in arm
If they leave the house, they do so supported by each other

In the morning's chill
When it's still cool outside in the morning

It's to have a good cry, to say their last good-bye
If they do leave the house, it's often to attend a funeral of someone close to them

To one who's older still
The person they are saying goodbye to is likely someone who was even older than them

And then they go home to the old silver clock
Afterwards, they return to their daily routine

The old folks never die
The song is implying that even in death, they are still together

They just put down their heads and go to sleep one day
Eventually, they will pass away, most likely in their sleep

They hold each other's hand like children in the dark
Even in death, they remain united

But one will get lost anyway
One will inevitably leave before the other

And the other will remain just sitting in that room
The surviving partner will be left alone to contemplate their loss

Which makes no sound
The silence is deafening

It doesn't matter now, the song has died away
The music as well as their time together has come to an end

And echoes all around
Their memory and presence are still felt in the echoes of the past

You'll see them when they walk through the sun-filled park
Their physical form may be gone, but their spirit lingers on

Where children run and play
The park is a symbol of youth and energy, a stark contrast to the elderly couple

It hurts too much to smile, it hurts too much but life goes on
Seeing the happy children is bittersweet and can be emotionally overwhelming

For still another day
Life will continue on, despite the pain of loss

As they try to escape the old silver clock
Their thoughts may turn to the clock, a reminder of their own mortality

When day is through
As night falls and the day comes to an end

It tick-tocks oh so slow, it says, 'Yes,' it says, 'No'
The clock continues to taunt them with its never-ending tick-tock

It says, 'I'll wait for you'
The clock is a symbol of how quickly time passes and how little control we have over it

The old, old silver clock that's hanging on the wall
The clock represents time and how it waits for no one

That waits for us
It is a reminder that we are all mortal and that time will eventually catch up with us

All
The end of the song