Before They Woke

Salt on the collar

Sun on the neck

Just a shadow on a map

Doing the work

Sweeping the glass

Washing the mud from the boots of the heavy

Nobody saw the spill

Nobody knew the mess was there

Because I cleaned it

Before they woke

Before the day began

Chorus

But who holds the candle

Who holds the flame

When no one around knows the weight of your name

Quiet hands

Quiet heart

Staying for the end and finishing the start

Yeah they look right through you

They look right through

Verse 2

Fixed the wire

Bolted down the latch

Hung a brand new gate in the cold

Wind bit hard

Ground was frozen black

Poured a gallon of water for the dog next door

Empty chairs in the yard

A stack of letters I forgot to send

Doesn't really matter

Just a bit of rust

Just another debt paid into the wind

Chorus

But who holds the candle

Who holds the flame

When no one around knows the weight of your name

Quiet hands

Quiet heart

Staying for the end and finishing the start

Yeah they look right through you

They look right through

Bridge

Maybe it's the mercy

Maybe it's the wood

Maybe it's the things that they never understood

Doing it anyway

Keeping it level

Walking it home in the middle of the rain

Chorus

But who holds the candle

Who holds the flame

When no one around knows the weight of your name

Quiet hands

Quiet heart

Staying for the end and finishing the start

Yeah they look right through you

They look right through

Outro

I saw

I felt

I stayed

Closing the lid on the box in the garage

Just another night

Keep it quiet

Keep it clean