there is a series of books called "33 1/3" that goes in depth on classic albums and for the explanation of this song it says that it's about a heartbroken youngster being bummed about a girl. when he goes to the bar, the "old bastard at a bar who wants to tell you his life story" tells his story to the main speaker in response to his somberness, basically saying, "what the hell do you know about pain?"
thus, the first half of the first verse is the youngster, and the old man's story interjects in the second half and lasts until halfway through the second verse. the young man's story continues with him leaving the bar. in this reading the first chorus is part of the old man's story, and the second chorus is part of the young man's story. they were or are both in search of a pair of brown eyes but for different reasons. perhaps it's an older version of the same person trying to tell the kid to stop being emo and grow up.
there is a series of books called "33 1/3" that goes in depth on classic albums and for the explanation of this song it says that it's about a heartbroken youngster being bummed about a girl. when he goes to the bar, the "old bastard at a bar who wants to tell you his life story" tells his story to the main speaker in response to his somberness, basically saying, "what the hell do you know about pain?"
thus, the first half of the first verse is the youngster, and the old man's story interjects in the second half and lasts until halfway through the second verse. the young man's story continues with him leaving the bar. in this reading the first chorus is part of the old man's story, and the second chorus is part of the young man's story. they were or are both in search of a pair of brown eyes but for different reasons. perhaps it's an older version of the same person trying to tell the kid to stop being emo and grow up.