Older chests reveal themselves
Like a crack in a wall
Starting small, and grow in time
And we always seem to need the help
Of someone else
To mend that shelf
Too many books
Read me your favorite line

Papa went to other lands
And he found someone who understands
The ticking, and the western man's need to cry
He came back the other day, you know
Some things in life may change
And some things
They stay the same

Like time, there's always time
On my mind
So pass me by, I'll be fine
Just give me time

Older gents sit on the fence
With their cap in hand
Looking grand
They watch their city change
Children scream, or so it seems,
Louder than before
Out of doors, and into stores with bigger names
Mama tried to wash their faces
But these kids they lost their graces
And daddy lost at the races too many times

She broke down the other day, yeah you know
Some things in life may change
But some things they stay the same

Like time, there's always time
On my mind
So pass me by, I'll be fine
Just give me time
Time, there's always time
On my mind
Pass me by, I'll be fine
Just give me time


Lyrics submitted by BlueAndStarry

Older Chests Lyrics as written by Damien George Rice

Lyrics © Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Older Chests song meanings
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    General Comment

    I saw Damien last year and he talkjed about why he wrote this song. Damien wrote this about a crappy apartment his friend had. He was looking at a shelf that was crammed so full with books that it was falling down. The "Older Chests" represent furniture that is cheap and falls apart. It represents our culture's lack of appreciation for things. Then the song goes into how we don't appreciate anything anymore. We own all these things and don't even appreciate what we have: "too many books, read me your favorite line" - we have so many books that we don't even know what they're about or have time to read them.

    pnkseashelon November 29, 2004   Link

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