[Verse 1]
Caught in the middle, Carol, we're middle class
We're middle aged, we were wild in the old days
Birth of rock n' roll days, now your kids are coming up straight
My child's a stranger, I bore her but I could not raise her

[Pre-Chorus]
Nothing lasts for long
Nothing lasts for long
Nothing lasts for long

[Chorus]
Down at the Chinese Café
We'd be dreaming on our dimes
We'd be playing, "Oh my love, my darling"
One more time

[Verse 2]
Uranium money is booming in the old hometown now
It's putting up sleek concrete, tearing the old landmarks down now
Paving over brave little parks, ripping off Indian land again
How long, how long, short-sighted business man?

[Pre-Chorus]
Ah, nothing lasts for long
Nothing lasts for long
Nothing lasts for long
[Chorus]
Down at the Chinese Café
We'd be dreaming on our dimes
We'd be playing, "You give your love so sweetly"
One more time

[Verse 3]
Christmas is sparkling out on Carol's lawn
This girl of my childhood games with kids nearly grown and gone
Grown so fast like the turn of a page
We look like our mothers did now when we were those kids' age

[Pre-Chorus]
Nothing lasts for long
Nothing lasts for long
Nothing lasts for long

[Chorus]
Down at the Chinese Café
We'd be dreaming on our dimes
We'd be playing, "Oh my love, my darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long lonely time
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me"
[Outro]
(Time goes, where does the time go?
I wonder where the time goes)