I went for a walk the other day.
Saw a man who didn’t seem to have a reason to smile.
Now after looking at his face I knew that
If I were him I couldn’t turn my mouth up.
I thought I’d give him some time so I sat down
And he started to cry and said he is an old man with a young man’s heart.
You maybe wondering how it gets this far,
Open an ear boy and let me tell you how it goes.
Can you imagine?
Everything you wanted,
Everything you hoped for,
Everything you needed.
Can you imagine?
It all just leaves you drowning, in pools of self destruction
I don’t think you can.
It was a rainy night twelve years ago.
I had a nice wife three kids and a good home.
I was waiting impatiently the phone rang the voice was calm and he said
I’m sorry sir your family’s gone they were at a train track, the engine stalled.
Nothing at all could be done to save them sorry again about this call
Cause you’re a young man with an old man’s heart
You maybe wondering how it gets this hard
Now don’t you fear son this will pass before you know.
Can you imagine?
Everything you wanted,
Everything you hoped for,
Everything you needed.
Can you imagine?
It all just leaves you drowning, in pools of self destruction
I don’t think you can.
Now son you gotta keep your mind on the tears
And the pain and the blame and everything in between.
It made me realize no one cares.
And I said young man with an old man’s heart
You maybe wondering how it gets this hard.
Now don’t you fear son this will pass before you know.
Can you imagine?
Everything you wanted,
Everything you hoped for,
Everything you needed.
Can you imagine?
It all just leaves you drowning, in pools of self destruction
I don’t think you can.
Saw a man who didn’t seem to have a reason to smile.
Now after looking at his face I knew that
If I were him I couldn’t turn my mouth up.
I thought I’d give him some time so I sat down
And he started to cry and said he is an old man with a young man’s heart.
You maybe wondering how it gets this far,
Open an ear boy and let me tell you how it goes.
Everything you wanted,
Everything you hoped for,
Everything you needed.
Can you imagine?
It all just leaves you drowning, in pools of self destruction
I don’t think you can.
I had a nice wife three kids and a good home.
I was waiting impatiently the phone rang the voice was calm and he said
I’m sorry sir your family’s gone they were at a train track, the engine stalled.
Nothing at all could be done to save them sorry again about this call
Cause you’re a young man with an old man’s heart
You maybe wondering how it gets this hard
Now don’t you fear son this will pass before you know.
Everything you wanted,
Everything you hoped for,
Everything you needed.
Can you imagine?
It all just leaves you drowning, in pools of self destruction
I don’t think you can.
And the pain and the blame and everything in between.
It made me realize no one cares.
And I said young man with an old man’s heart
You maybe wondering how it gets this hard.
Now don’t you fear son this will pass before you know.
Everything you wanted,
Everything you hoped for,
Everything you needed.
Can you imagine?
It all just leaves you drowning, in pools of self destruction
I don’t think you can.
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Rains is an amazing band, and Jeff is just an incredible lyricist. There's not much to interpret here, but it's obviously a very sad, incredible story.
Great song, a lot of mainstream bullshit could learn from bands like these guys...like Dvita said, not much to interpret, it's a great story. Personally i love how it's "Old man with a young man's heart" and then "YOUNG man with an old man's heart" i think it makes the song that much better and unique.
Does any bocy know how to find the true story behind this song? I have looked alot, and can't find it. This is my absolute favorite band. And, I have yet to find a song by them I do not like. if you find anything on the story, post it.