Count Their Kids Again

[Verse 1] Gravel crunches under boots Porch light buzzing Pale and thin Screen door rattles in the wind Every window sleeping Name and address on the sheet Ghosts of curtains Nothing moves Radio murmurs in his ear He clears his throat Then speaks in [Chorus] “There’s no one home The house looks secure Tell them to count their kids again Tell them to count their kids again There’s no one home The house looks secure Tell them to count their kids again Tell them to count their kids again” [Verse 2] Mailbox stuffed from other days Bike left leaning by the fence Dog next door just stares and waits Breath hangs in the cold air He walks the siding Checks the latch Sees his own face in the glass Static crackles in his chest He keys the mic Repeats it [Chorus] “There’s no one home The house looks secure Tell them to count their kids again Tell them to count their kids again There’s no one home The house looks secure Tell them to count their kids again Tell them to count their kids again” [Bridge] He thinks of names He thinks of rooms Of empty beds And morning news One more time For whoever’s tuned in (you listening?) He lets it ring out [Chorus] “There’s no one home The house looks secure Tell them to count their kids again Tell them to count their kids again There’s no one home The house looks secure Tell them to count their kids again Tell them to count their kids again Tell them to count their kids again Tell them to count their kids again”