Stealing Home
Nostalgic Reflections: Life's Changes in Willie Nelson's 'Stealing Home'
Lyrics
Being young got old
Feeling older despite being young
I couldn't wait to grow up
Eager anticipation of adulthood
When I finally hit eighteen
Leaving hometown upon reaching legal age
I got out of this tired old town
Departure from the familiar town
I didn't get back much
Infrequent return visits
As much as mama wanted
Mother's desire for more frequent returns
The few times I did get back
Occasional revisits lacked impact
It didn't hit me like it is right now
Current return is emotionally profound
The house got small
Perception of childhood home shrinking
Dad lost his hair
Father experiencing aging
The rope swing and the trees aren't there
Absence of familiar childhood elements
The neighbor, she ain't sweet old Mrs. Jones
Change in neighbors
Little sister's not right down the hall
Sibling no longer living nearby
Rex ain't around to fetch his ball
Missing pet dog
No need to ride to grandma's down the road
No need for visits to grandma's place
Damn old Father Time for stealing home
Regret for the passage of time
It didn't take two weeks
Rapid sale of the family home
From the time the sign first went up
Quick transition of property ownership
Dad said the folks who bought it
Father's observation about the new owners
Sure do seem to love the place
New owners' fondness for the house
Mom called and I came
Mother's call prompting a return
To help her load the U-Haul
Assisting in packing for the move
Seems for every box I pack
Rediscovering past memories while packing
I find another yesterday
Nostalgia evoked by items found
The house was huge and dad had hair
Recollection of a grander past home
There was a rope swing on the tree right there
Recounting the old familiar features
No one baked a pie like Mrs. Jones
Remembering a neighbor's culinary skills
And we grew like weeds on the kitchen wall
Growth marked on the kitchen wall
Rex, he lived to fetch his ball
Fond memories of a beloved pet
And grandma was a bike ride down the road
Proximity of grandma's house in the past
Damn old Father Time for stealing home
Resentment towards time for changing things
Little sister's not right down the hall
Reiteration of sibling's absence
Rex ain't around to fetch his ball
Mourning the loss of a pet
No need to ride to grandma's down the road
Obsolete need for visiting grandma
Damn old Father Time for stealing home
Blaming time for altering the familiar
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