[Intro] [Friday evening. Zipper closing. A suitcase being dragged across the floor.] [woman] You got your pajamas? [Young Deez] Yeah. [woman] Toothbrush? [Young Deez] Yeah. [woman] Homework? [Young Deez] Mom. [woman] I'm just asking. [Young Deez] I know. [Car horn outside.] [woman] That's your father. [Young Deez] He's early. Don't get used to it. [Verse 1] Friday night, little suitcase by the door, Two pairs of socks and a toothbrush in a drawer. Mom says, “Be good,” like I got a choice, Dad's outside honkin' with his cheerful voice. Betty-Lou checks the bag, checks it twice, “Call me when you get there.” “Yeah, Mom. I will.” She says, “I mean it.” “I know, Mom.” “I love you.” “I know.” Then I'm out the door, headed down the block, Every other Friday, same time on the clock. Mom waves from the window till the car disappears, And Dad starts explaining all the things he forgot this year. [Ernie, spoken from car] Your jacket. [Young Deez] What? [Ernie] Your jacket. [Young Deez] I'm wearing it. [Ernie] Right. Good. [Chorus, young Deez] Every other weekend, that's the way it goes, One house has my pajamas, one house has my clothes. Friday I'm a son, Sunday I'm a guest, Got two sets of house rules and I try to learn the rest. Every other weekend, every other bed, Two different goodnights inside the same little head. Everybody loves me, yeah, I know they do— It's just sometimes love has got a calendar too. [Verse 2] Dad's got a place where the living room leans, A record player and a shelf full of magazines. Ernie makes pancakes, Ernie burns the toast, Says, “That's how you know they're good.” I say, “I like 'em most.” We watch the late show, we laugh at the screen, He tells me every story like I wasn't there the first three times. He says, “Tomorrow, buddy, we'll go anywhere.” [Young Deez] Where? [Ernie] Wherever you want. [Young Deez] Can we go to the park? [Ernie] Absolutely. [Beat.] [Ernie] After I fix this thing. [Young Deez] What thing? [Ernie] I don't know yet. [Verse 3] Sunday comes quick, suitcase by the stairs, Mom says she'll be waiting, Dad says, “I'll be there.” Five o'clock, six o'clock, streetlights coming on, I'm sitting by the window in my Superman pajamas. Mom's place is forty minutes down the road, Dad said he'd be here. Dad said he would. Then headlights turn the corner, finally pull up, Ernie jumps out smiling, holding half a sandwich. [Ernie, spoken] Sorry I'm late, buddy. [Young Deez] What happened? [Ernie] You ever see a pigeon stuck inside a laundromat? [Young Deez] ...No. [Ernie] Neither had I. [Beat drops.] [Chorus, young Deez] Every other weekend, that's the way it goes, One house has my pajamas, one house has my clothes. Friday I'm a son, Sunday I'm a guest, Got two sets of house rules and I try to learn the rest. Every other weekend, every other bed, Two different goodnights inside the same little head. Everybody loves me, yeah, I know they do— It's just sometimes love has got a calendar too. [Bridge] Mom says, “Call me.” Dad says, “I'll call.” Mom keeps my drawings on the refrigerator wall. Dad keeps my sneakers underneath his chair, And when I leave on Sunday, He still looks for me there. Maybe that's the funny thing about a kid like me: You can have two homes and still wonder where you're supposed to be. [Final Chorus, adult Deez] Every other weekend, Friday comes around, Little suitcase waiting while the sun goes down. Mom says, “Be careful.” Dad says, “Let's go.” I say, “I'll see you Sunday.” Like I don't already know. Every other weekend, every other bed, Two different goodnights inside the same little head. Everybody loves me. Yeah, I know they do. [Music drops back to piano/bass.] It's just every other weekend I get to miss one of you. [Outro] [Car pulls away. Betty-Lou watches from the doorway.] [Betty-Lou, softly] Call me when you get there. [Young Deez, from car] I will, Mom. [Ernie] Hey, buddy? [Young Deez] Yeah? [Ernie] You know any good places to buy a sandwich? [Vinyl crackle / fade.]
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