Verse 1 The apartment’s quiet, just me and the clock Keys on the table, coffee getting cold No voices down the hall, no light left on Just a note to myself: be strong till dawn Mom and Dad are miles away I still check my phone before I drive away Pre-Chorus I’ve seen how fast the dark can fall That’s why I never miss a call Chorus Someone has to stay awake When the world is resting, hearts can break While families sleep and lights go out I stand watch, no room for doubt I give my nights, I give my days For the ones who need me to stay Someone has to hold the line So I do, every night Verse 2 Hospital halls, fluorescent glow Soft alarms, voices low I know these rooms, I know the signs I’ve learned to read between the lines Between the charts and bedside prayers I wonder if my parents are okay out there Pre-Chorus I can’t be there, but I still try Love travels further than distance tonight Chorus Someone has to stay awake Count the breaths we cannot lose or break While my family dreams somewhere far I’m fighting fear under blinking stars I miss the sun, I miss the day But this calling asks me to stay Someone has to hold the line So I do, every night Bridge I’ve missed the birthdays, the normal days Traded weekends for emergency bays Sleep comes short, but purpose stays This is love in a quieter way Breakdown (Soft) If I can keep one heartbeat strong Then being tired all night long Is a sacrifice I’ll always make Someone has to stay awake Final Chorus Someone has to stay awake For the parents, children, lives at stake I keep my own safe in whispered prayer Even when I can’t be there I give my nights, I give my days For the sake of my patients, anyway Someone has to stand the line So I do, every night Outro The sun comes up, I drive alone Send a text home: “You good?” “I’m home.” They’re still safe, another day That’s why I’ll do it all again tonight
