HEAVY BOXES

[VERSE 1] Learned to say "I'm alright" before the question fully lands Quick smile, dead joke, both grips on the handles Carried it so quiet the weight became routine Heavy boxes look harmless when the cardboard’s clean I'm usually the one turning up. "Don't worry, mate. I'll sort it." Said that exact sentence when I absolutely couldn't afford it Never minded being useful, never asked for the praise Just wanted someone to notice the tremor in my hands these days [CHORUS] Can you carry some of this? Just a minute if you can. Don't take the whole weight, just take it from my hands Been doing this so long I forgot what sharing means If you see my shoulders drop, don't wait for me to speak [VERSE 2] Nights driving nowhere just to keep the engine hot Music low, streetlights, untangling the knots Everything I parked all day pulling up at the lights Arguing with myself for miles, getting home alright Keep functioning. Answer texts. Do the shop. Make the tea. Laugh at the punchline so nobody has to see What the rest of the evening actually looks like. [VERSE 3] Don't make it an intervention. Ask me what's wrong, I'll tell you "Nothing," sing the same old song Don't try to fix it. Sit down. Have a paned. Tell me some rubbish. Let the quiet take the strain Without treating the silence like a problem to be solved. [BRIDGE] I'll carry yours tomorrow. That's the only debt. Two people dropping bags before we break a sweat. [FINAL CHORUS] Carry some of this. Not all the way to the end. Just enough to remind me that I actually have a friend If your shoulders drop tomorrow, I'll see the shift You won't even have to ask. I'll take the lift.