Stealing Home
Nostalgic Echoes: Father Time's Silent Theft
Lyrics
Being young got old, I couldn't wait to grow up
Expressing impatience with youth and eagerness to grow up.
When I finally hit eighteen I got out of this tired old town
Leaving the hometown at the age of eighteen.
Didn't get back much, as much as Momma wanted
Infrequent visits back home, not meeting his mother's expectations.
The few times I did get get back it didn't hit me like it is right now
Realizing the emotional impact of revisiting the hometown.
CHORUS:
Beginning of the chorus reflecting on the changes in the hometown.
The house got small and dad lost hair
Observing the house shrinking, symbolic of the passage of time.
The rope swing and the tree aren't there
Notable absence of familiar elements like the rope swing and tree.
The neighbor, she ain't sweet old Mrs. Jones
Not recognizing the neighbor, Mrs. Jones, as sweet anymore.
Little sister's not right down the hall
Little sister no longer living close by.
And Rex ain't around to fetch his ball
Rex, a pet dog, is no longer present to play fetch.
And no need to ride to grandma's down the road
No need for the familiar ride to grandma's house.
Oh, damn old Father Time for stealing home
Expressing frustration with time for changing the familiar surroundings.
Didn't take two weeks from the time the sign first went up
Quick sale of the house after it went on the market.
Dad said the folks who bought it sure do seem to love the place Mom called, I came to help them load the U-Haul
Helping the new owners move, reflecting on the past.
Seems for every box I pack I find another yesterday
Discovering memories with each packed box.
CHORUS:
Repeat of the chorus, emphasizing the changes in the house.
The house was huge and dad had hair
Contrasting the current state with the past, highlighting loss.
Was a rope swing on the tree right there
Noting the absence of the rope swing and tree.
And no one baked a pie like Mrs. Jones
Reflecting on the uniqueness of Mrs. Jones' pie-making skills.
Yeah we grew like weeds on the kitchen wall
Recalling family growth symbolized by marks on the kitchen wall.
And Rex he lived to fetch his ball
Rex, the dog, used to play fetch and is now absent.
And grandma was a bike ride down the road
Grandma's house used to be a short bike ride away.
Oh, damn old Father Time for stealing home
Reiterating frustration with time for altering the familiar.
Little sister's not right down the hall
Repetition of the absence of the little sister in close proximity.
And Rex ain't around to fetch his ball
Rex, the dog, is emphasized again as not being present.
And no need to ride to grandma's down the road
No longer needing to make the customary ride to grandma's house.
Oh, damn old Father Time for stealing home For stealing home
Final expression of frustration with time for changing the familiar.
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