[Verse 1] Somebody dragged out that old lawn chair Paint chipped off and the armrest bare Left it right there in the firelight ring Like they're late, but they're still coming Cooler’s half-open, someone pops a lid Smoke in our eyes like the years we hid We laugh too loud at the same old lines Till the talking turns to the ones not by our side [Chorus] Raise a bottle to the empty chair Save a story, leave it hanging in the air This fire burns for the ones who made it here And the ones who aren't, but still feel near We pass the night like we pass that name Through the sparks and the quiet and the flame Every real campfire, anywhere Has one for the living, one empty chair [Verse 2] Could be your dad’s spot, tilted just so Where he’d nurse one drink and “take it slow” Could be a friend who packed up that truck Chasing some town and a run of luck Could be a voice that the ground held tight Still pulls up when the coals go white When the jokes run out and the breeze runs cold Someone says it soft, like a secret getting told [Chorus] Raise a bottle to the empty chair Save a story, leave it hanging in the air This fire burns for the ones who made it here And the ones who aren't, but still feel near We pass the night like we pass that name Through the sparks and the quiet and the flame Every real campfire, anywhere Has one for the living, one empty chair [Bridge] Shallow fire only warms who stayed Deep fire glows for every face it made So scoot on over, make a little room For the ghosts, for the gone, for the kids gone too soon (oh) [Chorus] Raise a bottle to the empty chair Save a story, leave it hanging in the air This fire burns for the ones who made it here And the ones who aren't, but still feel near We pass the night like we pass that name Through the sparks and the quiet and the flame Every real campfire, anywhere Holds the chair that’s filled and the one that's bare [Outro] So pull up closer, feel that flare We’re all taking turns in an empty chair When the fire burns low and the talk runs thin We’ll say your name, and we’ll let you in
