[Intro] (piano alone, two notes repeating, room sound, no other instruments, 4 bars) [Verse 1] You used to do everything You used to know where everything was Now Dad knows where the laundry soap is And which pills go in the morning And he doesn't say it but I see what it costs He moves a little slower these days He carries something he won't put down And every time I visit He says he's doing fine He's not fine But that's the way they are [Pre-Chorus] And you sit in your chair by the window And you smile when I walk in the door And I don't know how much you're following But you know me You know me for sure [Chorus] You're still my mother You're still the one who taught me how to love somebody Even on the days you can't find the words Even when the room gets quiet And the conversation moves around you You're still my mother And I'm still your boy We're just taking the long way home [Verse 2] Three years ago in February The world rearranged itself in an afternoon You were sixty-five and you were going to live forever And we all kept saying next year, next year Like next year was a thing we could choose You raised five of us And you held fifteen grandbabies And every one of us is watching you now The way you used to watch us When we were small enough to hold [Pre-Chorus] And Dad pretends he's not exhausted And I pretend I don't see And you watch him from across the kitchen Like he's the only thing You ever needed to see [Chorus] You're still my mother You're still the one who taught me how to love somebody Even on the days you can't find the words Even when the room gets quiet And the conversation moves around you You're still my mother And I'm still your boy We're just taking the long way home [Bridge] (stripped to piano and voice only, no other instruments) Last Christmas you danced with him Hand in hand by the tree And my daughter was singing Snowman In a voice too old for her years It sounded like an angel Knew exactly what the room needed And you followed Dad like you always did Your body remembered the steps Even when the rest of you was tired And he held you like he was holding the years And I watched from across the living room Trying not to cry where you could see Because some moments are too sacred For anyone to interrupt Even me [Chorus] (half-step lift, full band enters for first time, gospel harmonies, fiddle and pedal steel) You're still my mother You're still the one who taught me how to love somebody Even on the days you can't find the words Even when the room gets quiet And the conversation moves around you You're still my mother And I'm still your boy We're just taking the long way home [Outro] (piano and voice only, room sound, hard cut at end) You danced with him by the Christmas tree You danced with him hand in hand We're just taking the long way home And I'm holding your hand The whole way home
