Harry Connick, Jr.：Meaning of All These People Songmeaning

The song "All These People" by Harry Connick, Jr. speaks about a unique and unforgettable experience the narrator had. The lyrics suggest that the narrator witnessed something he had never seen before and hopes to never see again. The song begins by describing a group of people waiting for someone, but no one arrives. It seems that nobody wanted to go where they were waiting. The narrator expresses fear and holds hands with a "crazy man" out of desperation. However, the narrator realizes that the man is not actually crazy, and they form a bond in their shared fear. The lyrics then mention two people who cared, but their caring only brings shame. They end up lying in water and living in dust. The song then shifts to the narrator being shown home by a stranger, indicating that he was in a foreign place. He carries on for the sake of a countryman's soul, implying a sense of duty or connection. When the narrator goes back to the place where the people were waiting, there is nobody there. He wonders if his brother has purchased another plot of land, suggesting that people have moved on or given up. In the end, the narrator reflects on the uncertainty of encountering strangers and family, emphasizing the transient nature of relationships and the fleeting connections we make with others. The repeated mention of "all those people waiting there" signifies a collective experience of waiting, uncertainty, and a sense of searching for connection or meaning.