verse 1 We had an apartment in the city Me and Loretta liked living there It's been years since the kids have grown Oh, lives of their own, they left us alone verse 2 John and Linda live in Omaha Joe is somewhere on the road We lost Davy in the Korean war And I still don't know what for, guess it doesn't matter anymore We know old trees just grow stronger Old rivers grow wilder every day But old people just grow lonesome Waiting for someone to say, "Hello in there, hello" Interlude verse 3 Me and Loretta we don't talk much more She just sits, stares through the back door screen And all the news just repeats itself Like some forgotten dream that we've both seen verse 4 Someday I'll go and call up Rudy We worked together at the factory But what'll I tell him if asks what's new I'd say, "Nothing, what's with you? There ain't much left to do" We know old trees just grow stronger Old rivers grow wilder every day But old people just grow lonesome Waiting for someone to say, "Hello in there, hello" Interlude Verse 5 So, if you're walking down the street sometime And spot some hollow ancient eyes Please don't just pass them by and stare As if you didn't care, say, "Hello in there" Say, "Hello" Say, "Hello" Say, "Hello" Say, "Hello"