☝️ Key Points
- The lyrics tell the memories and feelings of a man who returns to his old home.
- He longs for his home and wants to seize opportunities in life.
- The lyrics describe the nostalgia for past times and the search for a place where one feels safe.
- It shows the power of memories and how they can influence our emotions.
Interpretation
The song lyrics 'Good Old World (Waltz)' by
Tom Waits tell the story of a man who returns to his old home and talks about his memories and feelings. As a child, he saw the world as something beautiful - the moon was like a pearl and the sun was golden. But as he grew up, he experienced how life became harder and the world more confusing - the wind blew cold and the hills were upside down. Despite it all, he longs for his home and wants to seize the opportunities that life offers him. He wants to drift on the river of opportunities and be in the good old world. He describes how he will fly back home in October and only bring a handful of flowers to his grave. He remembers the summer when he walked home in the rain with a special person. He praises her beauty - her mouth was pretty and her hair was soft. But nothing can be like it used to be. He longs to rest his head on her chest, where a rose lies. Her hair was yellow like the sun and the wine was red like love in the good old world. The song lyrics convey the longing for past times and the search for a place where one feels secure. They also show the power of memories and how they can influence our emotions.