“Upper Bunk” (Verse 1) Nineteen seventy-two, the storm rolled in Not rain or thunder—just raised voices, paper-thin Chlorine still clinging to my summer skin When they said “divorce” and the tilting began Four boys standing silent in the hall Watching the life we knew start to fall Dad stayed in the house that his hands had built While we packed our childhood and our guilt (Chorus) I took the upper bunk, held on tight My brother kicking dreams in the bed below Four schools, then four more, another fight We were nomads of the calendar, learning to let go Learning to let go (Verse 2) She married again and had high hopes for the man we didn’t know San Anselmo streets, another school to show We were the new kids with our ropes already frayed Too young to see the lifeline that we cut away We were cruel, we were selfish, we were scared Cut the rope that might’ve kept her there Marriage failed before it had a chance And we moved again—just another dance (Chorus) I took the upper bunk, held on tight My brother kicking dreams in the bed below Four schools, then four more, another fight We were nomads of the calendar, learning to let go Learning to let go (Bridge) Heat through the screen door, hornet fan Sloppy joes and sleeping mom on the couch again My eldest brother reading quiet and alone Middle brother’s lighter—flick, flash, rebellion shown He was bunny-hopping kids lying in the street T.N.T. playing—danger, rage, and heat My rage learned silence, learned to hide ’Cause speaking it never helped—I tried (Chorus) I took the upper bunk, held on tight My brother kicking dreams in the bed below Four schools, then four more, another fight We were nomads of the calendar, learning to let go (Outro) Doors slam, Dad’s voice still echoes through An unanswered question I never knew Four boys, one bedroom, holding on To the upper bunk till the calm was gone Till the calm was gone
