[INTRO — instrumental, tumbling bass, nervous sax flutters] [VERSE 1 — rapid, jittery] Went to the shelter for a puppy, sure (sure) Something young and dumb to match my empty picture Of a life — and then I passed the last cage on the left Twelve years old, half deaf, one ear Folded like a letter that came back unread Eyes like an old bartender — nothing to be said That he ain't heard — I crouched — he didn't come Just watched me like: go on, son, get your puppy, run And I sat down on the concrete in my decent pants And we stayed like that — two old bachelors, no dance Left in us — the volunteer said he's been here five months Owner passed — no family — and I said: that's us, once That was me this winter — nobody's plan Load him up — I got a couch and a fry pan [HOOK — jittery, warm] Old dog, old dog (come on) Grey muzzle, slow tail, he's already home Old dog, old dog (come on) Everybody wants the puppy — I'll take the thrown Away ones — the ones that know what a bowl means (old dog) [BRIDGE — piano stabs, voice bare] Everybody wants the beginning Nobody wants the end of the story But the end of the story is where the loyal lives He's not my rescue — we're each other's [HOOK — jittery, warm] Old dog, old dog (come on) Grey muzzle, slow tail, he's already home Old dog, old dog (come on) Everybody wants the puppy — I'll take the thrown Away ones — the ones that know what a bowl means (old dog) [VERSE 2 — warmer, steadier] First week he just slept in a patch of sun Second week he followed me room to room — one Step behind like a slow little bodyguard Third week I caught myself talking out loud, no guard Up — told him 'bout the divorce, the job, the knee And he thumped his tail once like: buddy, me Too — we both got mileage and a leaky heart We both know breakfast is the best part Now there's two bowls by the kitchen door And the house got warmer than it was before He won't see next Christmas probably — I know the math But you don't measure a gift by the length of the path You measure it by who shows up at the door Tail slow, eyes old, asking: is there room for one more [OUTRO — sax flutters and fades] (old dog... old dog...) His name is Biscuit now He answers when he feels like it
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