Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town

Pearl Jam

I seem to recognize your face
Haunting, familiar yet
I can't seem to place it
Cannot find the candle of thought to light your name
Lifetimes are catching up with me

All these changes taking place
I wish I'd seen the place
But no one's ever taken me

Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away
Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away

I swear, I recognize your breath
Memories like fingerprints are slowly raising
Me, you wouldn't recall for I'm not my former
It's hard when you're stuck upon the shelf

I changed by not changing at all
Small town predicts my fate
Perhaps that's what no one wants to see
I just want to scream hello

My God it's been so long
Never dreamed you'd return
But now here you are and here I am

Hearts and thoughts they fade away

Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away
Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away
Hearts and thoughts they fade away
Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away
Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away
Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away
Hearts and thoughts they fade


Lyrics submitted by Trent, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town Lyrics as written by Jeff Ament Dave Abbruzzese

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town song meanings
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  • +5
    General Comment

    This always seemed, to me, about a couple in love as young people, and then the man walks into some nameless small town when he's like eighty, and recognizes his first love again but is afraid to say anything to her, and she recognizes him as well but due to being trapped in her small life, she doesn't say anything.

    It's a bit like my grandmother...married 50 years, then my grandfather died. Two years later, she runs into the boy she knew when she was 16 who she dumped to date my grandfather. They are now married.

    ramathesonon December 11, 2010   Link

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