Old Folks
Lovin' Spoonful Lyrics
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Thank you
Good morning
Looking fine
It's all those old folks left here waiting
That leapt my heart into my mind
It's a sad, sad feeling
On every sunny Sunday morning
All golden-aged and sittin' in
Comes out to putter in the sunshine
And shuffle through his deck of bein'
It's a sad, sad feeling
To still be around
And it's the same old tired park bench
Nobody's found
Soft wrinkled stories if you listen
About the lazy days back when
Your mom and dad were little babies
And he had friends still livin' then
It's a sad, sad feeling
To still be around
And it's the same old tired park bench
Nobody's found
And there was a tree put there for shading
That they cut down
The fields he loved got turned to highways
From horse to car to plane to moon
Staying well meant that he feels older
Yet none of his kids have the room
It's a sad, sad feeling
To still be around
And it's the same old tired park bench
Nobody's found
There was a tree put there for shading
That they cut down
And his old shoes
Had worn a spot there
From grass to ground
In Lovin' Spoonful's song "Old Folks," the singer observes a group of elderly people who gather on sunny Sundays in the park to relive their memories and bask in the sunshine. The singer greets the elderly with kindness and acknowledges their presence, but he cannot shake the feeling of sadness that lingers within him because their youthfulness has passed them by. The park bench and the tree that once stood for shade serve as a symbol of how time changes and how life moves on. The field they once loved has now turned into highways, and the shoes of the old folks have worn a spot in the grass, reminding the singer of how permanent their presence was, but how that permanence has essentially been erased.
The lyrics paint a picture of nostalgia and wistfulness. The elderly people share their stories of the past, and the singer is left to contemplate the fleeting nature of life. The tree that has been cut down represents the end of a chapter, and the old shoes worn down by the grass symbolize the passage of time. The song conveys a sense of melancholy, but it also touches on the beauty of memories and how they connect us to our past.
Line by Line Meaning
You'll always hear me say Hello Ma'am
I am polite and respectful to everyone
Thank you
I express gratitude when appropriate
Good morning
I acknowledge the start of a new day
Looking fine
I appreciate the appearance of others
It's all those old folks left here waiting
The presence of elderly people around me brings up feelings of sadness and regret
That leapt my heart into my mind
My emotions strongly affect my thoughts
On every sunny Sunday morning
This is a recurring event that happens regularly
All golden-aged and sittin' in
The elderly people are sitting down and have aged significantly
Comes out to putter in the sunshine
They come out to enjoy the sun and do light activities
And shuffle through his deck of bein'
They have a lot of life experiences that they reflect on and remember
Soft wrinkled stories if you listen
The stories they share are filled with wisdom and insight, despite their age
About the lazy days back when
They reminisce about times when life was simpler and slower
Your mom and dad were little babies
These stories date back well before the person listening to them was born
And he had friends still livin' then
Many of their loved ones have already passed away, but they still remember them fondly
The fields he loved got turned to highways
The places they used to live and roam have been drastically changed by the passage of time
From horse to car to plane to moon
The world has gone through incredible advancements in transportation technology that they have experienced firsthand
Staying well meant that he feels older
They feel the weight of their age on their body and mind, even if they have taken good care of themselves
Yet none of his kids have the room
Their children may not have the capacity, resources, or desire to take them in or care for them in their old age
And there was a tree put there for shading
There used to be a tree that provided comfort and shade in the park
That they cut down
The tree was removed, possibly due to urban development or other human intervention
And his old shoes
The person being described is well-worn and familiar
Had worn a spot there
There is physical evidence of their presence and routine in the park
From grass to ground
Their presence and passage of time have left a mark on the environment
Contributed by Connor B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.