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Old-fashioned Hat Lyrics
Summer went the way of spring
winter's waiting in the wings
And we haven't saved anything
but that's alright
Cause we already paid the rent
there's still some money we haven't spent
Go put on something different
we're going out tonight
I have loved you for so long
even when I could only do you wrong
go see if they have our song
on the jukebox over there
A dollar gets you seven plays
I watch you through a smoky haze
a secret smile on your face
I'm sorry if I stare
But you look like a stranger
in that old-fashioned hat
And I've got a pocketful of change
and I don't wanna go home yet
Clearly I remember when
I used to scratch my poems
on the backs of other lovers in
the darkness of my mind
Back before I made my home
in the marrow of your bones
Now I know your figure like my own
even from behind
But you look like a stranger
in that old-fashioned hat
And I've got a pocketful of change
and I don't wanna go home yet
Hey and we'll be married soon
we'll be dancing to this very tune
Then we'll have a honeymoon
then we'll start to fight
Bring the tonic and the gin
say what was your name again?
Stick another quarter in
and stay with me tonight
You look like a stranger
in that old-fashioned hat
And I've got a pocketful of change
and I don't wanna go home yet
winter's waiting in the wings
And we haven't saved anything
but that's alright
Cause we already paid the rent
there's still some money we haven't spent
Go put on something different
we're going out tonight
even when I could only do you wrong
go see if they have our song
on the jukebox over there
A dollar gets you seven plays
I watch you through a smoky haze
a secret smile on your face
I'm sorry if I stare
in that old-fashioned hat
And I've got a pocketful of change
and I don't wanna go home yet
I used to scratch my poems
on the backs of other lovers in
the darkness of my mind
Back before I made my home
in the marrow of your bones
Now I know your figure like my own
even from behind
in that old-fashioned hat
And I've got a pocketful of change
and I don't wanna go home yet
we'll be dancing to this very tune
Then we'll have a honeymoon
then we'll start to fight
Bring the tonic and the gin
say what was your name again?
Stick another quarter in
and stay with me tonight
in that old-fashioned hat
And I've got a pocketful of change
and I don't wanna go home yet
Song Info
Submitted by
megaira On Oct 13, 2007
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Clearly I remember when/ I used to scratch my poems/ on the backs of other lovers in/ the darkness of my mind/ Back before I made my home/ in the marrow of your bones...
Those have got to be some of the most beautiful lyrics I have heard in a very, very long time.
The only thing about this song that bothers me is that I don't understand where the "say what was your name again?" line comes from, because the whole rest of the song seems to be talking about a long-standing relationship. Oh well.
When she says "say what was your name again?" I took this as a long-standing relationship with two people that still have a loving bond that doesn't get old. It's almost like they are falling in love all over again.
When she says "say what was your name again?" I took this as a long-standing relationship with two people that still have a loving bond that doesn't get old. It's almost like they are falling in love all over again.
I think that the old hat her partner puts on is just enough to make him seem like a stranger, even though the years have made them so close and intimately familiar with ever aspect of each other (now I know your figure like my own/even from behind). They decide to go out; he goes across the room and tinkers with the jukebox, and there, with that hat on, she sees him differently, almost as a stranger. She's attracted to him much like she was the first time, 'bring the tonic and the gin, let's get to know...
I think that the old hat her partner puts on is just enough to make him seem like a stranger, even though the years have made them so close and intimately familiar with ever aspect of each other (now I know your figure like my own/even from behind). They decide to go out; he goes across the room and tinkers with the jukebox, and there, with that hat on, she sees him differently, almost as a stranger. She's attracted to him much like she was the first time, 'bring the tonic and the gin, let's get to know each other. Home means bills and responsibility - and I suppose we should get married - but here, with you in that hat, things are kind of perfect.'
Actually, some time after posting that comment I read an interview in which she explained that this song was about her husband, but that "Sometimes you look at someone you know so well, and for a moment you don’t even recognize them.
Actually, some time after posting that comment I read an interview in which she explained that this song was about her husband, but that "Sometimes you look at someone you know so well, and for a moment you don’t even recognize them.
It’ exciting. I hope that happens our whole life." So yes, it's like that feeling of falling for them all over again. Now that I understand those lines in that light it just makes me love this song even more.
It’ exciting. I hope that happens our whole life." So yes, it's like that feeling of falling for them all over again. Now that I understand those lines in that light it just makes me love this song even more.
Interview here:http://www2.registerguard.com/cms/index.php/ticket-files/comments/full-text-of-interview-with-anais-mitchell/
Interview here:http://www2.registerguard.com/cms/index.php/ticket-files/comments/full-text-of-interview-with-anais-mitchell/