House of Shame
Echoes of Neglect: Unveiling the Heartbreak Behind 'House of Shame'
Lyrics
There's nothing unusual about the way my day begins
Describes the normal start of the narrator's day.
As I walk up and down the streets with my mailpouch in my hands
Narrator walks the streets with a mailpouch in hand.
I've run this route for years everybody knows my name
Narrator has been on this mail route for years, known by everyone.
Especially at the old folks home which I call the House of Shame
Refers to an old folks home as the "House of Shame."
The old folks home is my last stop that's where I end my daily rout
The old folks home is the last stop on the narrator's route.
And my mailpouch is usually empty by then not always but just about
Mailpouch is usually empty by the time he reaches the old folks home.
Except for an accosional letter and they all wait anxiously
Occasional letters are eagerly awaited by the residents.
With sad eyes that said the question is there anything for me
Residents hope for mail, with sad eyes questioning if there's anything for them.
And I hear their trembling voices as they talk back and forth
Narrator hears their voices as they talk among themselves.
I guess the children're just too busy to write
Children are too busy to write, suggesting neglect.
They've got a lot of things to do of course
Children have many responsibilities.
And I try to cheer 'em up and say things to make 'em feel better
Narrator tries to uplift them despite the lack of letters.
Then I think to myself just how little effort it takes to write a letter
Reflects on the minimal effort it takes to write a letter.
Their old and wrinkled faces and hair as white as snow
Describes the physical appearance of the elderly residents.
And memories locked up in their minds that only they could know
Mentions memories that only the elderly residents possess.
I spent many hours there at the end of each day's run
Narrator spends time at the old folks home, trying to provide companionship.
Trying in some way to fill the place of a daughter or a son
Attempts to fill the emotional void as a substitute for family.
And I listen as they tell me of their families of days gone by
Residents share stories of their families and past.
And the sadness there at times is so great I can't help but cry
Sadness is profound at times, leading to the narrator's tears.
And thought it's reality it seems more like a dream
Despite being real, the situation seems like a dream.
That some of them have grandchildren that they've never even seen
Some residents have grandchildren they've never seen.
And I think it's just a shame that children they have raised
Expresses sorrow that children would place their parents in such a home.
Would put 'em in this House of Shame to spend their later days
Labels the old folks home as a "House of Shame" for the elderly.
So there they sit just waitin' waitin' for letters they never get
Residents wait for letters they never receive.
Waitin' for children that never come by waitin' just waitin' to die
They wait for children who never visit, anticipating death.
You see my folks are old now too and we've put 'em in a home
Narrator acknowledges putting their own parents in a home but emphasizes they live with them.
But the difference is they live with us and they'll never be alone
Highlights the contrast between narrator's parents' situation and the elderly in the "House of Shame."
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