Pearl Jam — Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town July 22 2006

[Verse 1] I seem to recognize your face Haunting familiar, yet I can't seem to place it Cannot find the candle of thought to light your name Lifetimes are catching up with me All these changes taking place I wish I'd seen the place but no one's ever taken me [Chorus] Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away [Verse 2] I swear I recognize your breath Memories, like fingerprints, are slowly raising Me you wouldn't recall for I'm not my former It's hard when you're stuck upon the shelf I changed by not changing at all Small town predicts my fate Perhaps that's what no one wants to see I just want to scream, "Hello My god its been so long Never dreamed you'd return But now here you are and here I am" [Chorus] Hearts and thoughts they fade away Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away Hearts and thoughts they fade away, yeah Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away Hearts and thoughts they fade 9 Follow Embed More on Genius Dennis Rodman Takes The Pearl Jam Quiz Looking Back At Kanye West’s “Gold Digger” Featuring Jamie Foxx Joji Works His Way Through Heartbreak With His Final ‘Ballads 1’ Single “TEST DRIVE” Add a comment Murilodc 301 2 years ago Eddie himself once stated that these lyrics are not about himself, but about a woman living in a small town. She had this passion with a man in the past. But he left. She lived all her life in this town, where she couldn’t change, except “by not changing at all”, once that the “small town predicts” her faith. Lately, her loved one is back in town, but she as a small town person, is just to embarrassed to “scream hello”. She lived all her life with memories about him. And this is what makes her conclude that “hearts and thoughts they fade away” +7 Show More (5)