[Verse 1] They called you McGuire, from a place down in Pensacola A restaurant name for a cat with a sailor's soul Part Siamese, deep blue eyes like pieces of the ocean You'd choose the hour and the hand that you would know You'd climb beside me when the wanting found you Take every gentle stroke like it was owed Then turn around and catch me with your teeth Bolt down the hall as if the rent was due [Chorus] McGuire, you loved me on your own terms A little wild, a little hard to hold McGuire, those blue eyes never trembled You were small in size, but your heart was gold And if goodbye is one last look between us You said it plain before you had to go McGuire, my old friend, I still can hear you That single meow that told me you knew [Verse 2] One day a pit bull came across the yard A giant lion charging, paws cutting the air He looked like thunder with a mouth wide open But you stood your ground and met him with a stare No backing up, no scrambling for the doorway No fear inside the blue beneath your brow That dog came roaring like the world was ending You answered like the world could wait somehow [Chorus] McGuire, you loved me on your own terms A little wild, a little hard to hold McGuire, those blue eyes never trembled You were small in size, but your heart was gold And if goodbye is one last look between us You said it plain before you had to go McGuire, my old friend, I still can hear you That single meow that told me you knew [Bridge] Years laid silver softly through your whiskers Your running got slower, your naps grew long Still, when I called, you turned your head toward me Like some old refrain you had known all along [Verse 3] I held you close when the room grew quiet Your weight was warm against my trembling arm You found my eyes, and I found yours wide open Blue as the sea, still steady, still calm Then came that meow, so gentle and final Not anger, not fear, just a voice I knew You gave me one last look across the distance And I said, "Go easy, I'll remember you" [Final Chorus] McGuire, you loved me on your own terms A little wild, a little hard to hold McGuire, those blue eyes never trembled You were small in size, but your heart was gold And if goodbye is one last look between us You said it plain before you had to go McGuire, my old friend, I still can hear you That single meow that told me you knew [Outro] Sleep now, McGuire, beneath the Pensacola weather No leash, no room, no hand to make you stay I keep your name beside the ones I treasure And feel you choose me in the quiet every day
