[Intro] [Vocal: dry, half-spoken] Nineteen days. Somebody get the door. [Verse 1] [Vocal: wry, conversational] [Energy: mid] You left the porch light on like a bet you refused to lose There's a casserole with my name on it, third week in the fridge And my photograph got promoted to the mantle Up there with the people who don't come back Every hug lands half a second late — You're checking if your arms go through [Pre-Chorus] [Energy: building] Nobody hugs a ghost on the first try You circle me polite, like I'm wet paint Don't ask me where I went — there's nothing there to tell you Ask me anything, ask me anything else [Chorus] [catchy explosive] [Energy: high] You threw the wake (while I was out) You poured the doubles (while I was out) Somebody learned my songs and sang 'em better You broke your heart in half (while I was out) And glued it back (while I was out) You did nineteen days of weather While I was out [Verse 2] [Vocal: conversational, darker] [Energy: mid] You counted nineteen days — I can't account for one Time only happens to the people keeping time You aged a little — sorry — I blinked and missed my funeral My empty chair was more here than I was And grief's a job: you poured the doubles, worked the doubles Did the missing for the both of us I'd settle up, but there's no currency For loving someone through a locked door [Chorus] [Vocal: full belt, parentheses as his own dry echo] [Energy: high] You threw the wake (while I was out) You poured the doubles (while I was out) Somebody learned my songs and sang 'em better You broke your heart in half (while I was out) And glued it back (while I was out) You did nineteen days of weather While I was out [Bridge] [Vocal: hushed, near-spoken] [Instrumental: bare piano, half-time] There was no while There was no out There wasn't even "I" enough to miss you — I know. I know how that sounds. But the candle wax kept minutes And you wrote the ending down So I'll take your word for it I'll take your word for me [Final Chorus] [Vocal: biggest belt, cracking] [Energy: maximum, full band slams] So throw the wake (next time I'm out) Pour the doubles (next time I'm out) Teach somebody new to sing it better Break your heart, then glue it back — do all the weather twice And take my word, right now, while I'm around: It was worth it being someone Worth the missing while I'm out [Outro] [Vocal: quiet, single dry voice] [Instrumental: everything out but one guitar] Porch light's on. Leave it on.
