[INSTRUMENTAL — organ swells over snaps, violins warm underneath] [VERSE 1 — warm storytelling flow] Reunion at the park, same shelter, forty Junes Same potato-salad debate, same spades, same tunes T-shirts every year — this year's is purple, "Family Ties" Last year's was gold — I got a drawer of every size Empty chairs with names now — Big Mama, Uncle June DJ played they songs back to back, whole shelter sang by noon Kids I never met keep calling me "cousin" on sight That's the point of the whole thing — somebody's gotta keep it tight [HOOK — bittersweet chant, call and answer] We still here (still here), we still here (still here) Every year the picture got a couple faces missing We still here (still here), we still here (still here) T-shirts say "forever" — forever keep on shrinking [VERSE 2 — flow slows, the counting] The picture used to take a ladder and a wide lens Now we fit in one long row — time don't ask, it thins Auntie Ree hold court now in Big Mama's folding chair Don't nobody say "she runs it" — we just all gather there I grilled with my uncle's apron on — still got his burn Tongs heavy in a good way — I guess it's my turn Next year I'm bringing my son, gonna learn him the spades game Somebody's gotta fill them chairs — that's how a name remains [BRIDGE — beat drops to organ and snaps, voices stacked low] Say the names (say the names), say the names (say the names) Big Mama, Uncle June — say 'em loud so they stay Every year the circle's smaller (smaller), so we pull it tight (tight) Fewer chairs, closer shoulders — that's the deal with time [FINAL HOOK — biggest one, whole shelter singing] We still here (still here), we still here (still here) Every year the picture got a couple faces missing We still here (still here), we still here (still here) T-shirts say "forever" — forever keep on shrinking [OUTRO — chant fading, organ holding the last note] We still here (still here) ... (say the names)
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