When the House Got Quiet

WHEN THE HOUSE GOT QUIET VERSE 1 There were shoes beside the doorway Backpacks thrown across the floor Music shaking through the hallway Someone always slammed a door Every dinner ran past midnight Every weekend had a game I used to pray for peace and quiet Now I’d give it all away PRE-CHORUS Nobody tells you How fast the years can fly One day they need you The next they’re saying goodbye CHORUS Every child grows wings to leave Even when you’re not ready Every memory cuts so deep When the house gets way too empty I gave my whole life to their lives Every morning, every night Now they’re becoming who they’re meant to be And I’m still learning Who that leaves in me VERSE 2 Now it’s work and friends and girlfriends Late-night plans and school-band shows They miss Christmas, skip the birthdays Say, “I’ll call you when I’m home” They still love you, they’re just living Building worlds that don’t need yours And every little piece you’re missing Used to run through every door PRE-CHORUS Nobody leaves you In one final goodbye They just need you A little less each time CHORUS Every child grows wings to leave Even when you’re not ready Every memory cuts so deep When the house gets way too empty I gave my whole life to their lives Every morning, every night Now they’re becoming who they’re meant to be And I’m still learning Who that leaves in me DROP Where did all the noise go? Where did all the years go? Where did my whole world go? I’m still waiting By the window For a car that won’t pull in VERSE 3 Senior pictures on the counter College boxes by the stairs I keep finding little pieces Of the life we used to share There’s a bedroom full of silence There’s a jacket on the chair And I swear some nights I hear them Then I remember they’re not there BRIDGE I taught them how to tie their shoes How to drive and how to lose How to stand when life got hard How to trust their beating heart I taught them how to walk away I just never thought they’d take Every purpose that I knew When they walked out of the room What do you do When the job you loved is done? When the center of your world Finds another one? You smile and say, “I’m proud of you” Then close the door And break in two FINAL CHORUS Every child grows wings to leave Even when it leaves you bleeding Every memory you keep Makes the silence sound like screaming I gave my whole life to their lives Every sacrifice felt right Now they’re becoming who they’re meant to be And I’m still standing Where they used to need me Every parent learns too late Love means letting go someday You spend your whole life building them a home Then one day You’re the only one still home OUTRO They told me, “Raise them strong.” They never told me How much strength it takes To watch them leave And still be here When the house Gets quiet.