We had an apartment in the city Me and loretta liked living there It's been years since the kids have grown A lives of their own left us alone John and linda live in omaha And joe is somewhere on the road We lost davy in the korean war I still don't know what for don't matter anymore Ya' know that old trees just grow stronger Old rivers grow wilder every day But old people just grow lonesome Waiting for someone to say "hello in there hello" Me and loretta we don't talk much more She sits and stares through the back door screen All the news just repeats itself Like some forgotten dream that we've both seen Someday i'll go and call up rudy We worked together at the factory What will i tell him if he asks "what's new?" "nothing what's with you? nothing much to do" Ya' know that old trees just grow stronger Rivers grow wilder every day But old people just grow lonesome Waiting for someone to say "hello in there hello" So if you're walking down the street sometime And spot some hollow ancient eyes Please don't just pass 'em by and stare Like you didn't care say "hello in there hello" Say "hello in there hello"