[Verse 1] There’s a table in the corner at every military ball Most folks walk right past it, but it says more than it all Set for those who didn’t make it back Those still missing somewhere out there A quiet reminder to every one of us That somebody’s still not here That empty chair ain’t empty at all It’s waiting for a soldier who never got the call To come back home, walk through the door And sit down with the rest of us once more [Pre-Chorus] Every item on that table Has a reason it belongs Telling the story of the missing Without saying a damn word [Chorus] That chair stands empty for the ones not here The glass turned over says they can’t share this year The rose is for the families still holding on The ribbon says they’re missed though they’ve been gone so long The lemon’s for the bitter truth nobody wants to face The salt is for the tears that time can never erase A simple table set apart from all the rest To honor those who never made it back yet [Verse 2] The white cloth shows the purity of why they served Answering a call they knew they didn’t deserve The candle burns so we don’t forget The names and faces we still haven’t found yet The Bible sits there for the strength we all need When hope’s the only thing left to believe And every person in that room knows why it’s there Every one of us notices that empty chair [Chorus] That chair stands empty for the ones not here The glass turned over says they can’t share this year The rose is for the families still holding on The ribbon says they’re missed though they’ve been gone so long The lemon’s for the bitter truth nobody wants to face The salt is for the tears that time can never erase A simple table set apart from all the rest To honor those who never made it back yet [Bridge] Some were friends Some were leaders Some were kids trying to do their job Some never came home Some are still unaccounted for And some families are still waiting on answers Years later They’re still waiting [Final Chorus] That chair stands empty for the ones not here The glass turned over says we wish they were here The rose is for the families carrying on The ribbon says they’re never truly gone The lemon’s for the hard truth nobody can change The salt is for the tears that still remain A simple table set apart from all the rest To honor those who never made it back yet [Outro] So when you see that table Don’t just walk on by Look at the chair Look at the rose Look at the glass And remember somebody’s seat is still waiting Because until every one of them comes home That chair stays empty.
