Though Ketchum first began recording in the mid-1980s, not until his 1991 record deal with Curb Records did he have a major hit with the album Past The Point Of Rescue. The title cut to the album was a Top 3 single, and other singles that met similar success included "Small Town Saturday Night" and "Sure Love".
In 1994 Ketchum toured Britain, issuing the single "Past The Point Of Rescue" on that side of the Atlantic. Though the single failed to make the UK Top 100 pop charts, it received extensive airplay on country radio. The album Every Little Word (of which the UK release featured a bonus disc of past US hits including "Past The Point...") made the Top 40 on the UK country charts and also did the same back in the US.
Ketchum continued to record and release new material. His final US releases were Father Time in 2008, and I'm the Troubadour in 2014.
His film credits included appearing in the 1988 film Heartbreak Hotel and a small role in the 1994 film Maverick.
Old Soldiers
Hal Ketchum Lyrics
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We got what we came for, this is part of the deal
I can't forget you, I can't even try
Sometimes it seems like somebody died
Old soldiers die hard, old hearts beat slow
Old friends go easy, old lovers just go
I turned for a moment, you turned away
You had your reasons, God only knows
If it bothered you baby, it never showed
Old soldiers die hard, old hearts beat slow
Old friends go easy, old lovers just go
Old soldiers die hard, old heads hang low
Old friends go easy, old lovers just go
I keep telling myself that it's alright
But I know that later on tonight
Old soldiers cry hard, old hearts beat slow
Old friends go easy, old lovers just go
Old soldiers die hard, old heads hang low
Old friends go easy, old lovers just go
The song "Old Soldiers" by Hal Ketchum speaks about the difficulty of moving on from past relationships and the pain associated with it. The opening line, "old habits die hard, some wounds never heal," highlights the fact that despite trying to move on, some past habits and wounds continue to haunt us. The next line, "we got what we came for, this is part of the deal," suggests that the singer is acknowledging that the relationship has run its course and that they both knew what they were getting into.
The lyrics "I can't forget you, I can't even try, sometimes it seems like somebody died" demonstrate the intense pain and heartbreak the singer feels. They can't even bring themselves to forget the person, highlighting the impact of the relationship. The following lines "old soldiers die hard, old hearts beat slow, old friends go easy, old lovers just go" suggest that moving on is difficult, especially when someone has been a constant part of your life. The repetition of the phrase "old soldiers die hard" underscores the idea that it's hard to forget such deep, profound relationships easily.
The final verse "old soldiers cry hard, old hearts beat slow, old friends go easy, old lovers just go" highlights the emotional toll of ending a relationship. Despite the singer trying to convince themselves that everything will be okay, they know that it won't be, and they will spend the night crying alone.
Overall, "Old Soldiers" is a poignant song that speaks about the pain and difficulty associated with moving on from past relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Old habits die hard, some wounds never heal
It's difficult to change ingrained behaviors, and some emotional injuries never completely disappear
We got what we came for, this is part of the deal
We accomplished our goals, and this is what we agreed to do
I can't forget you, I can't even try
It's impossible for me to remove you from my thoughts and memories
Sometimes it seems like somebody died
The loss feels so intense that it's as if someone actually passed away
Old soldiers die hard, old hearts beat slow
People who have served in the military often struggle to adjust to civilian life and their emotions are slow to change
Old friends go easy, old lovers just go
Long-time friends tend to be forgiving and patient with each other, but old romantic partners are more likely to simply move on
Some fools never learn, ain't that what they say
Some people repeat their mistakes over and over, as the old saying goes
I turned for a moment, you turned away
As soon as I looked away, you distanced yourself from me
You had your reasons, God only knows
You had valid explanations for your choices, but I may never fully understand them
If it bothered you baby, it never showed
It's unclear if my actions caused you distress because you never gave any indication that they did
Old heads hang low
Elderly people often feel weighed down by their past experiences and the limitations of their aging bodies
I keep telling myself that it's alright
I'm trying to convince myself that everything is okay, even if it's not
Old soldiers cry hard
Veterans can experience deep emotional pain and may have trouble expressing their feelings
Old friends go easy, old lovers just go
Long-time friends are more likely to forgive each other's mistakes and stay connected, while old romantic partners may drift apart
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID B. MALLETT, HAL KETCHUM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind