"Old Folks" lyrics - MICHAEL JOHNSON

The old folks don't talk much
And they talk so slowly when they do
They are rich, they are poor, their illusions are gone
They share one heart for two

Their homes all smell of time
Of old photographs and an old fashioned song
Though you may live in town
You live so far away when you've lived too long

And have they laughed too much
Do their dry voices crack talking of times gone by
And have they cried too much
A tear or two still always seems to cloud the eye

They tremble as they watch
The old silver clock when day is through
It tick-tocks oh, so slow, it says yes
It says no, it says I'll wait for you

The old folks dream no more
The book have gone to sleep
And the piano's out of tune

The little cat is dead and no more
Do they sing on a Sunday afternoon
They old folks move no more
The world's become too small

Their bodies feel like lead
They might look out the window
Or else sit in a chair or else they stay in bed

And if they still go out arm in arm
Arm in arm in the morning chill
It's to have a good cry, to say their last goodbye
To one who's older still

And then they go home
To the old silver clock when day is through
It tick-tocks oh, so slow, it says yes
It says no, it says, I'll wait for you

The old folks never die, they just put down
Their heads and go to sleep one day
They hold each other's hand
Like children in the dark
But one would get lost anyway

And the other will remain just sitting
In a room which makes no sound
It doesn't matter now, the song
Has died away and echoes all around

You'll see them when they walk through the sun
Filled park where children run and play
It hurts too much to smile, it hurts too much
But life goes on for still another day

As they try to escape
The old silver clock when day is through
It tick-tocks oh so slow, it says yes
It says no, it says, I'll wait for you

The old, old silver clock
That's hanging on the wall
That waits for us all