My mom raised me on Harry Chapin. I swear I knew every word to his songs before I could read. Mom's been gone almost 5 years now, but me and her best friend (and sister-in-law) still send each other this song every March 21st. 💜
Singer is focused on his new lover but she brings the old lady to his attention by giving her attention as well as him ("stubborn" part). This keeps repeating (umbrella). At the end the old lady isn't there and so inductively you realize that his lover has abandoned him as well.
Personally I love the mystery of this song; it's not tied up in a nice, neat bow and gives room for different interpretations, it's kind of a mini film noir in music form. Corey, I don't know if you'll see this as I'm seeing your comments 8 years later, but if you are out there, here's my own take on it. I think that the old lady represents both hope- as she always shows up in spring, and constancy- as she shows up year after year. When the relationship has come to an end, so everything that was stable and constant in his life has also been shattered. In the wake of the broken romance and lost love, nothing is the same, how could it be? Personally, I always thought that his lover took the “old lady” with her- (perhaps to warmer climes) giving the old lady the stability, sustenance and shelter that she was looking for herself. It seems that the old lady had accepted her kindness, (the umbrella, treats for both her and the birds, companionship), perhaps she had accepted that ultimate helping hand of a offered ‘family of choice’. It just felt to me like his lover had decided that there were things she was willing to give up (him) but still wanted part of the life she had for those 3 years. Once she was gone, who would be bringing those kindnesses to the old lady in her absence? Anyway, that’s my vision. I sure miss Harry! He was one of my “constants”. I saw him every year from when I was 14 until his death when I was 22. But it always warms my heart to listen to his music.
This implied loneliness is the Climax of the song. If you knew she left and then looked for the old lady it would be more ho hum. Reversing it is not only more dramatic but also suggests that maybe he'll never get his lover back. She is gone for good. (My 2 cents.)
@SongsofHarry So I would say that the song is basically saying the friends part (or person) and the body or the two different side of the woman, like happy and sad, (something along the lines of that) were together the happy was still there so the sad. When it finally had enough he lost the entire woman. and when winter was over he waited for that side to come yet no show.
You know, this is the way I felt about Phyllis (her real name, of course, that is WHO SHE IS) 15 years ago when I came down to L.A., all excited to meet her in person and how we got along so well and... now she is just someone I used to know. If you don't know what feels like, I can't describe it. If I could... you wouldn't want to hear it. The closest I can get is when a smoker takes the last drag off the cigarette and tosses it to the ground and crushes it with the boot, twisting and turning the heel repeatedly to make sure every damn last spark is extinguished. Something like that, but with a lot more tears.
@coreythomas862009 The woman says she is as permanent as anything can be, and through-out the song she seems to have affection for the old lady, "We were three" as in when they got in arguments or were about to split they saw she was still there and decided one more time, and when she left him, so did the old lady. so the ol' lady could be another part of the woman, that's my guess.
