[Intro: flamenco guitar alone, slow, palmas come in] [Verse 1: grieving young male MC, steady] Dad's truck, twenty-four years old, two-tone where the door got replaced Bench seat sunk on the driver's side, still holdin' the shape of his waist Six weeks I ain't drove it. I just sit in it and breathe Coffee, sawdust, menthol, and the cologne he wore on Christmas Eve Opened up the glovebox Monday. Let me tell you what I found A tire gauge. Every Sunday, all four tires, thirty-two pounds A napkin from the taco truck, a phone number, no name A scratch ticket never scratched. He said the waitin' was the game Sunglasses bent to fit his head. They slide right off of mine An envelope that just says TIRES in his capitals, sixty dollars, signed [Hook: young male MC, sung, melodic] His name's still on the registration I ain't registered it yet Turn the key, the radio comes on his station I ain't registered it yet [Verse 2: harder, cajon heavier] DMV on Wednesday, number ninety-one, a clerk with glasses on a chain Slide her the title and the death certificate, and she asks me for my name I tell her. She looks up, looks at the paper, looks at me again Says, "Honey, it's already right." I'm a Junior. Didn't hit me until then Nineteen years I wore his name like a hand-me-down coat Now it fits. It shouldn't fit. Somethin' caught up in my throat Same name on the title and the headstone and my ID Every time somebody calls it, half of me turns around to see Clerk stamped somethin', said, "I'm sorry for your loss. You're all set" All set. Like I'm finished. Ma'am, I ain't even started yet [Hook: young male MC, sung, melodic] His name's still on the registration I ain't registered it yet Turn the key, the radio comes on his station I ain't registered it yet [Guitar solo: flamenco guitar, palmas double, no drums] [Verse 3: quiet, then rising] Under the seat there's a card, my name on it in his capitals Twenty dollars and a note: "Don't spend it on nothin' practical" My birthday ain't till November. He was early to everything Church, work, my games, the dentist, Christmas lights before Thanksgiving Early to everything, man. Early to the plant, early to the parish Only thing he ever showed up early to was the finish So I turn the key. Thirty-two in every tire. Checked 'em twice Hands at ten and two where his hands wore the leather down to shine Pull out the driveway slow, check the mirror the way he'd do Seat's still leanin' left. I'll let it. I can drive around the shape of you [Final Hook: sung, melodic, guitar and palmas] His name's still on the registration And I'm keepin' it the same Radio still on his station Finally registered the name [A cappella: guitar stops, spoken softly] Junior [End]
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