What is the name of this melancholic folk song I heard last year around Christmas?

Question

Here's a challenge. Last year I heard a melancholy, folky tune on the radio in between jumpy Christmas jingles, but I barely remember the lyrics. The delivery and vocal tone is kind of oldschool Carly Simon-esque, for all I know about music that's older than me. The plot of the song is that a man, speaking in first person, meets an old lover on the street. They have a chat in his car and reminisce about old times. Though she confides that she's married, and doesn't love her husband, the woman walks away after they finish their conversation, implying that both have missed their chance at happiness. I think the lyrics include the phrase "I asked her if she loved him back" and the final phrase notes that the weather is "turning into rain." Apart from that, I think New Years is mentioned at some point. Aren't I the marvellously unhelpful one?

Answer 1

Here you go: song title, artist and lyrics:

Same Old Lang Syne

(Dan Fogelberg)


Met my old lover in the grocery store,

The snow was falling Christmas Eve.

I stole behind her in the frozen foods,

And I touched her on the sleeve.



She didn't recognize the face at first,

But then her eyes flew open wide.

She went to hug me and she spilled her purse,

And we laughed until we cried.



We took her groceries to the checkout stand,

The food was totalled up and bagged.

We stood there lost in our embarrassment,

As the conversation dragged.



We went to have ourselves a drink or two,

But couldn't find an open bar.

We bought a six-pack at the liquor store,

And we drank it in her car.



We drank a toast to innocence,

We drank a toast to now.

And tried to reach beyond the emptiness,

But neither one knew how.



She said she'd married her an architect,

Who kept her warm and safe and dry,

She would have liked to say she loved the man,

But she didn't like to lie.



I said the years had been a friend to her,

And that her eyes were still as blue.

But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I saw,

Doubt or gratitude.



She said she saw me in the record stores,

And that I must be doing well.

I said the audience was heavenly,

But the traveling was hell.



We drank a toast to innocence,

We drank a toast to now.

And tried to reach beyond the emptiness,

But neither one knew how.

We drank a toast to innocence,

We drank a toast to time.

Reliving in our eloquence,

Another 'auld lang syne'......



The beer was empty and our tongues were tired,

And running out of things to say.

She gave a kiss to me as I got out,

And I watched her drive away.

Just for a moment I was back at school,

And felt that old familiar pain .........

And as I turned to make my way back home,

The snow turned into rain ..............

Answer 2

Dan Fogelberg Christmas Song

Answer 3

I know this song but I can't think of it. I'll remember!
I remembered. It's:
Dan Fogelberg - "Same Auld Lang Syne"
Met my old lover in a grocery store
The snow was falling Christmas Eve
Stole behind her in the frozen foods
and I touched her on the sleeve
She didn't recognize the face at first
but then her eyes flew open wide
Tried to hug me and she spilled her purse
and we laughed until we cried
Took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totaled up and bagged
stood there lost in our embarrassment
as the conversation dragged
Went to have ourselves a drink or two
but couldn't find an open bar
Bought a six-pack at the liquor store
and we drank it in the car
(etc.)
She said she'd like to say she loved the man
but she didn't want to lie
(etc. and ends with:)
Just for a moment I was back in school
And felt that old familiar pain
And as I turned to make my way back home
the snow turned into rain

Answer 4

The Snow Turned Into Rain

Answer 5

The above may have beat me to take a stab at your actual good clues, but I know for a fact that it ISN'T Carly Simon's music/lyrics. I'm a very long-time devotee (which really dates me, doesn't it?), so if you wanna ask Carly questions, lemme at 'em. (What was up with the "purple rain" answer? Might as well have blurted out "Riders on the Storm"--geez)

Answer 6

"Another Auld Lang Syne" performed by Harry Chapin ( It might have been Dan Fogelberg)

"and the snow turned into rain"
The ending was a sax solo for the first few bars of "Auld Lang Syne"

Answer 7

Purple Rain

Answer 8

Dan Fogelberg, "Same Old Land Syne"

Answer 9

I think you are talking about "Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg

Answer 10

The plot sounds a little like "All I Want to Do is Make Love to You" by Heart.