[Verse 1] The girls came down to see their dad On an island far from home Puerto Rico held his days While the barracks felt alone They found an orange tabby there Small enough to fit one hand They said, “He needs a friend tonight” And placed him where he’d stand [Pre-Chorus] They named him Tigger, bright-eyed trouble With a striped and crooked grin Dad said, “I don’t need a kitten” Then the little cat moved in [Chorus] Tigger loved him on his own terms Close enough, then gone again A little storm in orange fur A mischief-maker, soldier’s friend Through every fight and every scar Through every year that time could bring That good old cat stayed by his side And taught a hard heart how to sing [Verse 2] Some nights Dad would wake up shouting When two teeth found both his feet Tigger dashed beneath the dresser Like a thief who couldn’t be beat So Dad bought a little squirt gun And chased him room to room Till Tigger hid inside the bathroom Underneath the towel and gloom [Pre-Chorus] There he sat, soaked and trembling All his swagger washed away Dad knelt down and dried his fur And held him till the fear gave way [Chorus] Tigger loved him on his own terms Close enough, then gone again A little storm in orange fur A mischief-maker, soldier’s friend Through every fight and every scar Through every year that time could bring That good old cat stayed by his side And taught a hard heart how to sing [Verse 3] One afternoon he slipped from high The top floor of their home Dad ran down the stairwell fast And found him still as stone For one long breath the world stood silent Then Tigger moved his eyes He rose with a nervous little twitch And a crooked gait besides [Bridge] The years went soft around them The wildness settled down Tigger slept beside his master Like a king without a crown He never gave away his secrets He never begged or bowed But when Dad called, those golden eyes Would find him in the crowd [Final Chorus] Tigger loved him on his own terms Close enough, then gone again A little storm in orange fur Who became his oldest friend Through every fight and every scar Through every mile and year That good old cat stayed by his side And made a distant island near [Outro] And when the tired old heart grew still Dad held him to the end No squirt gun, no running feet Just one last breath between two friends Tigger loved him on his own terms But he loved him all the same And Dad whispered, “You were good, my boy” As tears fell through his mane
