Old Friends
Sara Lov Lyrics
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Old friends
Sat on their park bench like bookends
Newspaper blowin' through the grass
Falls on the round toes
Of the high shoes
Of the old friends
Winter companions the old men
Lost in their overcoats
Waiting for the sunset
The sounds of the city sifting through trees
Settle like dust
On the shoulders of the old friends
Can you imagine us years from today
Sharing a park bench quietly?
How terribly strange to be seventy
Old friends
Memory brushes the same years
Silently sharing the same fear
A time it was
It was a time
A time of innocence
A time of confidences
Long ago it must be
I have a photograph
Preserve your memories
They're all that's left you
The opening lines of Sara Lov's song "Old Friends" delves into the life of two dear friends who have been sitting on their park bench, symbolizing their long-standing friendship. Their presence and essence are intertwined, suggesting that their association is something beyond this world. The image is vividly created in the mind of the listener as they sit together, old and tired, their lives coming to a halt as the world continued to move on. The newspaper blowing through the grass and onto the round toes of their high shoes exhibits the mundanity and routine of life, despite the profound connection between the two friends.
The following verse explores the same concept, only in different settings: "winter companions, the old men. Lost in their overcoats, waiting for the sunset. The sounds of the city sifting through trees, settling like dust on the shoulders of the old friends." It's a common sight to see two old male friends waiting for the sunset, probably because they have nothing else to do or because they want to relive their youth once again. The dust on their shoulders, symbolizes the weight of the world on their shoulders, has been carried by these friends through their lives, and they have shared it silently, never speaking out loud about the hardships they faced.
Line by Line Meaning
Old friends
The singer reminisces about old friendships.
Old friends
The singer acknowledges that old friends remain memorable even after a long time.
Sat on their park bench like bookends
The singer observed her old friends sitting motionless on a bench, reminding her of decorative bookends.
Newspaper blowin' through the grass
The singer noticed a newspaper blowing in the wind and landing on the grass.
Falls on the round toes
The newspaper falls on the curved tips of the old friend's shoes.
Of the high shoes
The old friends were wearing high shoes.
Of the old friends
The newspaper lands in the general vicinity of the old friends.
Winter companions the old men
The singer noticed the old men sat as winter companions on a bench.
Lost in their overcoats
The singer noted how the old men appeared lost in their overcoats from her observation.
Waiting for the sunset
The old men sat waiting for the sun to set.
The sounds of the city sifting through trees
The singer listened to sounds from the city filtering through tree leaves.
Settle like dust
The city sounds settle like dust on the old friends.
On the shoulders of the old friends
The city sounds seem to be weighing on the old friends.
Can you imagine us years from today
The singer wonders if she will have a similar bench friend in future years.
Sharing a park bench quietly?
The singer imagines herself staying silent with a future friend on a park bench.
How terribly strange to be seventy
The singer contemplates the strangeness of being seventy years old and facing mortality.
Memory brushes the same years
Memories of younger days return to the singer.
Silently sharing the same fear
Memories bring the realization that the old friends silently shared the same fear.
A time it was
The singer remembers a particular moment when she shared time with her old friends.
It was a time
The remembered moment was a time of togetherness.
A time of innocence
The remembered moment was a time of naivety.
A time of confidences
The remembered moment was a time of intimacy and trust.
Long ago it must be
The singer acknowledges that the moment is long gone.
I have a photograph
The singer has a photograph that is a reminder of the long-gone moment.
Preserve your memories
The song encourages listeners to preserve their memories.
They're all that's left you
Memories are all that remains of the past.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind