back when we were beautiful

Emmylou Harris

I guess you had to be there, she said
You had to be
She handed me a yellowed photograph
And then said, see
This was my greatest love, my one and only love
And this is me
Back when we were beautiful, see

I don't feel very different, she said
I know it's strange
I guess I've gotten used to these little aches and pains
But I still love to dance, you know we used to dance
The night away
Back when we were beautiful, beautiful, yes

I hate it when they say
I'm aging gracefully
I fight it every day
I guess they never see
I don't like this at all
What's happening to me

But I really love my grandkids, she said
They're sweet to hold
They would have loved their grandpa
Those awful jokes he told
You know sometimes for a laugh, the two of us would act
Like we were old
Back when we were beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, yes

But I guess you had to be there