THREE NIGHTLIGHTS Whole house finally went quiet. Lemme check on my girls. Midnight in the kitchen, dishes still stacked I turn the hallway light on, then I turn it back Six years old, got tomorrow all planned Her outfit on the desk and the world in her hands She sleeps with a question she forgot to ask I straighten out the covers, let the moment last She made me somebody before I knew how And I'm still learning how to make her proud Four years old, stuff animal beside her face Blonde hair on a pillow, blanket out of place She feels the whole world with her heart turned up I wish I could protect it when the world gets rough And the smallest is two with her toy phone tight Told me, "I hang uppp," about a hundred times tonight That grin looks familiar when she's dreaming deep I kiss her little forehead and I let her sleep I walk this hallway every night Like I might miss something if I don't Three little breaths behind these walls And every one of them is home Three nightlights, soft gold hues Six and four and barely two I stand in the doorway, afraid to breathe Like one wrong sound might steal their dreams Three nightlights down the hall Little worlds, and I orbit them all I used to wish that the world was mine Now I just wish for more time More time, more time Three nightlights One whole life There are fingerprints halfway up the door A sock on the stairs, little shoes on the floor Six different stories just to get them to bed Still hear the funny parts replaying in my head The oldest says tomorrow we should make a plan The middle said to get her a unicorn as big as I can The baby wants one more hug before I go And I give her two, 'cause she'll never know How fast the little shirts turn into bigger ones How quick a whole day disappears when it's done I spent my younger years wanting rooms of my own Now the loudest little people make a house a home I walk this hallway every night Like I might miss something if I don't Three little breaths behind these walls And every one of them is home Three nightlights, soft gold hues Six and four and barely two I stand in the doorway, afraid to breathe Like one wrong sound might steal their dreams Three nightlights down the hall Little worlds, and I orbit them all I used to wish that the world was mine Now I just wish for more time More time, more time Three nightlights One whole life One day they won't need me To come down this hallway. Wish I could slow it down. You're on your side of the bed, facing the wall We both say we're tired, and we're both telling the truth Somewhere in between the laundry and bedtime We forgot how to make a little room for two I don't know what to say to make us close again Don't know where the distance learned our names But the lights are glowing down the hallway And I'll love those girls through anything Three nightlights, soft gold hues Six and four and barely two I stand in the doorway, afraid to breathe Like one wrong sound might steal their dreams Three nightlights down the hall Little worlds, and I orbit them all I used to wish that the world was mine Now I just wish for more time One... Two... Three... I'm right here. Goodnight, girls.
