[Verse 1] Fold it gently, keep it covered Nothing here deserves to break I'm not putting you behind me I'm just putting you away Wrap the corners, mind the edges Set it somewhere weight won't reach Every feeling has been handled Like it's still alive to me [Pre-Chorus] Turn the key Check the lock Hold it once Before I stop If I leave this door wide open I know I'll never learn to walk [Chorus] Mark it fragile Hold it carefully Nothing here gets thrown away I can't carry this beside me So I'll leave it somewhere safe Mark it fragile Seal it softly Keep the dust and daylight off I'm not packing up because it's over I'm packing up because it's not [Instrumental Break – Tender, Aching Violin] [Verse 2] Call me foolish for preserving What was never mine to keep Maybe you're completely right You still don't know what it means to me You can tell me I've romanticized it You can say I've held too long You can tell me I should lose it You don't get to call it wrong [Pre-Chorus] Nothing died That's what hurts Nothing gave Me something worse I have to close the door myself On something I would still protect [Chorus] Mark it fragile Hold it carefully Nothing here gets thrown away I can't carry this beside me So I'll leave it somewhere safe Mark it fragile Seal it softly Keep the dust and daylight off I'm not packing up because it's over I'm packing up because it's not [Instrumental Break – Mournful Violin Solo] [Verse 3] If you were gone, I'd have an ending If I stopped loving you, I'd leave But nothing gave me either mercy So I learned to pack it carefully I'll keep the weight from pressing inward Keep the cold from getting through I know exactly what I'm leaving I know exactly what it's worth Don't mistake the lock for anger Don't mistake the box for shame I am doing this to live now Not because the feeling changed [Bridge] If I leave the door unlocked I'll be back before the morning Taking everything apart Just to hold it for a while So forgive the turning key Forgive the distance I must choose Some things aren't put away Because they mean too little to lose And if someday I can carry this Without disappearing too I'll know exactly where I left it I'll know exactly how to find you [Long Instrumental Passage – Violin Swells, Then Falls Nearly Silent] [Final Chorus] Mark it fragile Hold it carefully Nothing here gets thrown away I can't carry this beside me So I'll leave it somewhere safe Mark it fragile Seal it softly Let me do what I came to do I'm not packing up because it's over I'm packing up Because it's not [Outro – Nearly Whispered] Turn the key Check the lock Don't mistake the lock for shame I leave it safe I walk away And when the hallway disappears I still know the number [Long, Devastating Violin Outro]
