Old Folks
Natascia Diaz & Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris 2016 Off-Broadway Cast Lyrics

The old folks don't talk much
Elderly people are often quiet and don't speak much.

And they talk so slowly when they do
When they do talk, they speak slowly.

They are rich, they are poor, their illusions are gone
Regardless of their wealth, elderly people have lost any illusions they had about life.

They share one heart for two
Elderly couples are often deeply connected and share their feelings and experiences.

Their homes all smell of thyme, of old photographs
The homes of elderly people often have a distinct smell of herbs and old photos.

And an old-fashioned song
They may also enjoy listening to music from their youth.

Though you may live in town, you live so far away
Even if you live close by, you can feel far away from the world of elderly people.

When you've lived too long
Living for a long time can change your perspective on life.

And have they laughed too much, do their dry voices crack
Their voices may sound crackly from years of laughter and talking.

Talking of times gone by
Elderly people often reminisce about days gone past.

And have they cried too much, a tear or two
Even if they have shed many tears over the years, they still seem to get emotional.

Still always seems to cloud the eye
Elderly people may still cry easily, even if just a little bit.

They tremble as they watch the old silver clock
Watching an old clock may remind them of the passage of time and their own mortality.

When day is through
This may happen at the end of a long day.

It tick-tocks oh so slow, it says, 'Yes,' it says, 'No'
The ticking of a clock can feel slow and repetitive, almost like it's saying 'yes' and 'no'.

It says, 'I'll wait for you'
The clock reminds them that time is always moving forward and waiting for no one.

The old folks dream no more
Elderly people may have given up on their dreams and desires.

The books have gone to sleep, the piano's out of tune
Their hobbies and interests may have fallen by the wayside with age.

The little cat is dead and no more do they sing
They may have lost beloved pets and can no longer participate in activities they once enjoyed.

On a Sunday afternoon
This may have been a favorite time for them in the past.

The old folks move no more, their world's become too small
Elderly people tend to be less mobile as they age and their world can seem smaller.

Their bodies feel like lead
Their bodies may feel heavy and cumbersome.

They might look out the window or else sit in a chair
Their day-to-day activities may be limited to sitting due to physical limitations.

Or else they stay in bed
They may also find comfort in bed.

And if they still go out, arm in arm, arm in arm
When they do leave the house, they often need support and may walk arm-in-arm.

In the morning's chill
This could be a sign that they enjoy early morning walks.

It's to have a good cry, to say their last good-bye
Sometimes they may leave the house to say goodbye to friends or family for what might be the last time.

To one who's older still
This goodbye could be to someone even older than themselves.

And then they go home to the old silver clock
Back home, they are reminded again of their own mortality.

When day is through
This is often a time of reflection for them.

It tick-tocks oh so slow, it says, 'Yes,' it says, 'No'
The ticking clock continues to remind them that time is always ticking away.

It says, 'I'll wait for you'
The clock continues to wait for them, but they know their time is limited.

The old folks never die
Elderly people may be gone, but their memories, legacy, and impact on others continue to live on.

They just put down their heads and go to sleep one day
Passing away is often quiet and peaceful, like simply falling asleep.

They hold each other's hand like children in the dark
Maybe they are scared of dying or the unknown, but they hold hands for comfort.

But one will get lost anyway
Even if they die in each other's arms, eventually, one of them will be left behind.

And the other will remain just sitting in that room
The surviving partner may be left alone and may feel lonely.

Which makes no sound
Their home, which was once filled with memories and laughter, now feels silent and empty.

It doesn't matter now, the song has died away
The beautiful melody of life and love is no longer being played in this person's life.

And echoes all around
Despite the silence, the echoes of memories and love continue to fill the room.

You'll see them when they walk through the sun-filled park
When they were younger, perhaps they used to enjoy walking in the park on sunny days.

Where children run and play
Now, they see the joy and playfulness of children and remember their own youth.

It hurts too much to smile, it hurts too much but life goes on
Despite the pain of growing old and losing loved ones, life continues.

For still another day
They may have lost a lot, but they are still alive and must continue on for at least another day.

As they try to escape the old silver clock
The clock seems to be a constant reminder of their own mortality.

When day is through
But at the end of the day, they still must face down their fears and anxieties.

It tick-tocks oh so slow, it says, 'Yes,' it says, 'No'
The ticking clock seems even louder and more relentless at night, offering no relief to their worries.

It says, 'I'll wait for you'
Despite their fears and anxieties, the clock continues to tick on, waiting for them.

The old, old silver clock that's hanging on the wall
This clock is a common fixture in the homes of elderly people.

That waits for us
The clock patiently ticks away, reminding us all of the preciousness of time.

All
The end of the song ties together the idea that we are all mortal and must face the ticking clock of time.