Float

[Intro – Warm upright piano, subtle room ambience, soft fingerpicked electric guitar. No drums.] [Verse 1 – Tender, restrained soulful singing] Dad came home with the dust on his shirt Left his boots by the kitchen door I'd be sitting there watching cartoons Never knew what he was working for He'd fall asleep with the TV talking Still get up before the sun I thought that was just what fathers did Didn't know what it took to be one [Verse 2 – Soft piano, delicate organ enters] Mom could tell when something was wrong Before I ever made a sound She'd sit beside me on the edge of the bed Till the fever finally came down She could make a dollar last till Friday Make a bad day feel all right And somehow when the whole world scared me She could make it small at night [Pre-Chorus – Strings slowly swell, Weston's voice begins to crack] I never saw the bills on the table Never heard the prayers behind the door I just knew when I was falling There were hands to catch me before— [Chorus – Powerful soulful belt, live drums and warm gospel harmonies] YOU TAUGHT ME HOW TO FLOAT! When the water got too deep When the weight of everything Was pulling down on me You held me till I learned How to keep my head above And every time the world gets heavy I remember how you loved Oh, I don't know where I'd be If you hadn't held me close You taught me how to float. [Instrumental – Emotional blues guitar melody, piano and gentle live drums] [Verse 3 – More mature, conversational vocal delivery] Now I catch myself saying things That I swore I'd never say Got my father's way of getting quiet When there's nothing left to explain And I hear my mother's voice inside me When somebody needs a hand It's funny how the things they gave you Make you who you are when you're a man [Pre-Chorus – Rising soulful vocal, organ and backing harmonies] And I wish I'd said thank you sooner For the years I couldn't see You were carrying the weight of living While you made it light for me [Chorus – Bigger emotional delivery, rich backing vocals] YOU TAUGHT ME HOW TO FLOAT! When the water got too deep When the weight of everything Was pulling down on me You held me till I learned How to keep my head above And every time the world gets heavy I remember how you loved Oh, I don't know where I'd be If you hadn't held me close You taught me how to float. [Bridge – All instruments fade to solo piano. Intimate, vulnerable vocal.] I know the years are moving faster I see the gray around your eyes And I hate that I can't stop the clock No matter how hard I try [Long pause] If your hands begin to tremble If the stairs get hard to climb If you ever need somebody You can lean on these arms of mine [Weston – Voice breaking, gradually building] You spent your whole life holding me... [Huge emotional gospel-soul belt] NOW LET ME HOLD YOU SOMETIMES! [Final Chorus – Full live band, soaring strings, gospel harmonies, passionate raspy lead vocal] YOU TAUGHT ME HOW TO FLOAT! When the water got too deep When the weight of everything Was pulling down on me You held me till I learned How to keep my head above And every time the world gets heavy I remember how you loved And if the day should ever come When you need someone to hold I'll be the hands beneath you Like you were when I was small [Final refrain – Instruments gradually fall away] You taught me how to float... [Weston – Soft, emotional] Now let me help you float. [Outro – Solo piano, distant gospel hum, warm natural room decay] [Weston – Almost whispered] Love you, Mom. Love you, Dad. [End]