Verse 1 The bells rang once, then swallowed sound, like fog that eats the shore. A lantern winked, a table set, a chair beside the door. We poured a cup for those who’d come, we left the fire to burn, but morning found the bread uncut, and no one to return. Chorus Oh hush now, hush, the harbor sings, the gulls know what they’ve seen. A name can fall like autumn leaves, and never touch the green. So raise your glass, don’t speak too loud, and mind the empty chair. What vanished once may hear you still, and vanish you from there. Verse 2 They say it took the gold, not coin, but something in the eyes. It took the laugh that warmed the room, it took the lullabies. The doorway kept its honest shape, the road stayed hard and plain, yet every map grew teeth that night, and bit out half the names. Chorus Oh hush now, hush, the harbor sings, the gulls know what they’ve seen. A name can fall like autumn leaves, and never touch the green. So raise your glass, don’t speak too loud, and mind the empty chair. What vanished once may hear you still, and vanish you from there. Verse 3 In spring we tied bright ribbons high, to coax the world to mend. In summer, truth was sworn in light, and oaths were meant to end. Come harvest, we set extra plates, for those who missed the way. In winter, we asked the sky for dreams, and dreams looked back and stayed. Verse 4 Some swear they saw a shadow smile in windowglass at dawn. Some swear the sea took breath and held, then let the moment on. But I just know the streets still creak where two once walked as one, and every year the taverns toast to ghosts beneath the sun. Final Chorus Oh hush now, hush, the harbor sings, the gulls know what they’ve seen. A name can fall like autumn leaves, and never touch the green. So drink for love and drink for loss, for what we cannot bear. The Vanishing took who it would, and left us standing here.
