[INTRO — instrumental, warm keys, round bass, swinging drums] [VERSE 1 — conversational flow, unhurried] Six hours north, her whole life in the trunk (uh) Lamps and laundry baskets, every bumper sticker shrunk To this — a Corolla with the seats folded flat Her up front with the playlist, me trying not to chat Too much — but I do, that's the job of the ride Dad jokes every mile, her pretending to hide The smile — eighteen years and it still don't work Pass the town where she lost her first tooth at church Pass the lake where she swore that she saw a fish big As the car — she was five, I said baby that's a pig Of a fish, keep believing — she laughed till she cried Now she's checking the dorm list and I'm checking my pride [HOOK — melodic, warm] Six hours north, don't drive fast Every mile marker's something from the past I carried you here, you carry the rest Six hours north, do your best (six hours north) [VERSE 2 — faster flow, painting pictures] Gas station at noon, she still gets the same snacks Gummy things and an orange drink, some things don't collapse She asks about my first year, was I scared, was I lost I say terrified, and hungry, and in love with the cost Of becoming — she don't get it yet, that's fine Nobody gets it till the leaving's on the line Then the campus — green and loud and full of other people's kids All the parents doing math on everything they did Carry boxes up the stairs like I'm carrying the years Her roommate's nice, the bed's too small, and suddenly it's here [BRIDGE — drums pull back, keys only, close voice] We hug in the doorway, not too long, that's the rule She says dad — just dad — and it lands like a jewel I keep it together down the hall, down the stairs Fall apart in the parking lot, nobody there Drive home six hours, her seat full of light Every song on the radio getting something right [VERSE 3 — flow opens up, resolve] House is too quiet, her door's open wide I don't close it — leave it open, let the hallway decide There's a sock on the floor and I don't pick it up First artifact of the new world, and it stops me, abrupt Then my phone buzzes once — it's a picture of her room All made up and cozy with the fairy lights in bloom And a text that just says made it, dad — like the trip Was the mountain — baby, you were always equipped [HOOK — soft, voice worn] Six hours north, don't drive fast Every mile marker's something from the past I carried you here, you carry the rest Six hours north, do your best [OUTRO — keys and bass ride out] (six hours north) Made it, dad (made it)
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