Lyrics
When I was younger, a part-time job worker
Reflecting on a past experience when the narrator worked part-time.
Department store center, I saw a man enter
Observing a man entering a department store.
He was middle-aged, deep lines on his face
Describing the man as middle-aged with noticeable facial lines.
Tight mouth and eyes glazed
Portraying the man with a tight mouth and glazed eyes.
Eyelids just half-raised
Noticing that the man's eyelids were only half-raised.
And I looked at him, he looked at me
Recalling a moment of eye contact between the narrator and the man.
He looked so sad, I had to see
Perceiving a deep sadness in the man's expression.
What did he want, what could it be
Expressing curiosity about the man's needs and motives.
What had he been through before me seeing him
Wondering about the man's life experiences leading to the current state.
In the store I worked for that year, that year
Referencing the specific year when the narrator worked in the store.
Ice skates he asked for, in the middle of summer
Describing the man's unusual request for ice skates during summer.
He wanted a good pair, the price he did not care
Indicating that the man prioritizes quality over the price of the skates.
I looked for his size, our best pair he tried
Finding the best pair of skates for the man's size.
Custom back and sides, excitement in his eyes
Highlighting the excitement in the man's eyes as he tries on the skates.
I asked are you a pro, he looked sad and said no
Asking if the man is a professional skater and receiving a negative response.
These skates are my last hope
Revealing that the skates are the man's last hope.
Without them I cannot cope
Expressing the man's inability to cope without the skates.
And he said my wife, she drowned this summer
Recounting the man's tragic loss—his wife drowned during the summer.
Behind our house, the river took her
Explaining the location of the drowning behind the man's house.
I cannot swim, I need to find her
Stating the man's inability to swim and his determination to find his wife.
I will wait till it freezes over
Deciding to wait until the river freezes over before searching for his wife.
And then I will skate, as far as it takes
Expressing the man's plan to skate as far as necessary to bring his wife back.
I will skate as far as it takes, to bring her back home
Reiterating the determination to skate a great distance for the sake of his wife.
To bring her back home, to bring her back home
Emphasizing the ultimate goal of bringing the man's wife back home.
Back home
Repeating the desire to bring the man's wife back home.
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