[Verse 1] Twenty years and more Plans made for the future Then the doctor said cancer And the whole room went still He held her hand tight Like that could make it go away And he drove her home slowly Through a trembling day [Pre-Chorus] He learned every meal break Every pill, every chart Learned how to smile With a cracked-open heart Made the bed clean Kept the dinner warm Tried to be brave In the middle of this storm [Chorus] Linda, stay here Linda, stay here He begged the night But the night moved on Linda, stay here Linda, stay here He gave her all he had Till her strength was finally gone [Verse 2] A year and a half Of small, little things Ice chips at dawn And the phone that would ring Family at the door Soft shoes on the floor A hand on her shoulder A quiet prayer that could not be ignored He cut up the salad He folded the clothes He said, “I’m right here” More times than she’d know And when she got tired She looked at his face Like she’d already found A better place [Pre-Chorus] The room got quiet The daylight thin Love stood watch Where the hurt lived in He kissed her forehead Held back the ache And kept on loving For her and their sake [Chorus] Linda, stay here Linda, stay here He begged the night But the night moved on Linda, stay here Linda, stay here He gave her all he had Till her strength was gone [Bridge] She went calm as rain On a warm summers day With her family near And the truth in the room No fight left to win No fear left to wear Just a soft last breath And his hand in her hair [Final Chorus] Linda, stay here Linda, stay here He begged the world But the world moved on Linda, stay here Linda, stay here Now he keeps on living With her love still in the air [Outro] He wakes up alone Then sets the table slow Talks to the chair Where her laughter used to go And he learns little by little What the heart can bear How to live with the ache And still live with care
