Postcards
Paul Tiernan Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Everybody's waving

The whole town is out

A man on a bicycle

Is passing me out
I live in a small house

Just a mile from the bridge

On a clear day

You might say

What a beautiful view

Easter parades, old pictures that fade

And postcards that come

From far away

Everybody's leaving

With a smile and a wave

They say

We'll give it a year or two

But nobody stays

I live in a small house

But there's plenty of room

So if you should call by

There'll be dinner for two

Easter parades, old pictures that fade

And postcards that come





From far away

Overall Meaning

The song "Postcards" by Paul Tiernan tells the story of a small-town life where everyone knows each other and has a sense of community. Despite the beautiful view around his house, the singer recognizes that everyone is leaving to pursue new opportunities, leaving behind fading old pictures, postcards from far away, and Easter parades. The sight of people leaving is a common occurrence for the singer, expressing the fleeting nature of time and life. The lyrics are rich in symbolism as they reflect on the mobility of the town's residents and the emotional disconnect between the singer and the rest of the town.


The lyrics convey a sense of loneliness and isolation, highlighting the prominence of postcards as a means of communication and connection. The postcards from afar provide a sense of comfort and connection to distant family and friends, contrasting with the overwhelming loneliness within the small town. The song also conveys the singer's willingness to share his home and create a community, as he invites anyone to have dinner with him. The song reflects upon the mundanity of small-town life and the human yearning for travel, adventure, and experiences.


Line by Line Meaning

Everybody's waving
Everyone in the town is greeting one another


The whole town is out
The entire community is present and visible


A man on a bicycle
A person riding a two-wheeled vehicle


Is passing me out
He is overtaking me as I walk or stand still


I live in a small house
I reside in a modest-sized dwelling


Just a mile from the bridge
My home is located within a short distance from a particular structure


On a clear day
During a time when the weather is nice and visibility is optimal


You might say
One could express the opinion that


What a beautiful view
The scenery is stunning


Easter parades, old pictures that fade
Retrospective visuals that lose their vividness over time, including holiday processions


And postcards that come
Correspondence cards that arrive


From far away
Sent from distant places


Everybody's leaving
Everyone is departing


With a smile and a wave
Exiting cheerfully and with a friendly nonverbal gesture


They say
The people have mentioned


We'll give it a year or two
They will try a new experience for a short period of time


But nobody stays
No one remains permanently


I live in a small house
My residence is not large


But there's plenty of room
However, there is enough space available


So if you should call by
Therefore, in the case that you visit


There'll be dinner for two
I will prepare a meal for both of us


Easter parades, old pictures that fade
Memories that gradually lose their clarity, such as festive marches


And postcards that come
Additionally, mail that arrives in the form of correspondence cards


From far away
From places that are situated at a distance




Contributed by Max O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions