I Thought You Meant See You Later

**[Intro — Soft acoustic guitar, almost whispered]** Hey, Jax... I didn't know, buddy. God, I didn't know. **[Verse 1]** The studio lights were coming on, I had another show to do. You wandered in like you always did, Like a thousand days with you. You laid a little kiss upon my feet, Then the day just carried on. I said, "I'll see you later, boy," Never dreaming you'd be gone. **[Pre-Chorus — Piano slowly enters]** Now I play that moment over, A thousand times inside my mind. How could something so ordinary Be the last of its kind? **[Chorus — Raw, emotional, restrained]** I thought you meant see you later, I didn't know it meant goodbye. If I'd known, I'd have knelt beside you, And let the whole world pass us by. Were you just saying "I love you"? Were you trying to tell me it was time? Oh, Jax, I'd give anything to go back, To that little moment you were mine. I thought you meant see you later... God, I thought we had more time. **[Verse 2 — Gentle acoustic guitar and pedal steel]** We crossed this country in my truck, Through the sunshine, rain, and snow. You never cared where we were headed, Long as you got to go. You were there when days were lonely, When the road was all I knew. And I never needed many friends, 'Cause I had a friend in you. And when the long day finally ended, You'd wait down at my feet. You wouldn't go to bed without me, And I couldn't sleep without you next to me. **[Chorus — Voice begins to break]** I thought you meant see you later, I didn't know it meant goodbye. If I'd known, I'd have held you closer, And never watched that moment pass me by. Were you just saying "I love you"? Were you trying to tell me it was time? Oh, Jax, I'd give anything to go back, To that little moment you were mine. I thought you meant see you later... God, I thought we had more time. **[Verse 3 — Music almost disappears]** Then the call came while I was live, And I turned my camera away. Your mama was right there beside you, While I watched from far away. And I couldn't reach across that screen, Couldn't hold you like before. I just watched my best friend leaving, And knew I'd never see you anymore. **[Bridge — Nearly spoken, trembling voice]** And I keep asking myself why, Why didn't I somehow know? Why didn't I get down beside you, Before I watched you go? But you never needed perfect words, You never asked me to explain. You just loved me every morning, Through the sunshine and the rain. Maybe that kiss wasn't a warning. Maybe it wasn't goodbye. Maybe you were just loving me, Jax... Like you had your whole damn life. **[Final Chorus — Emotional but intimate, voice cracking]** I thought you meant see you later, I thought we'd have another night. Now there's an empty place beside me, And I can't sleep without you by my side. And I don't know what you were saying, With that little kiss upon my feet. But I'd give anything, my sweet boy, To have you lying next to me. I don't know if you meant goodbye, Or just "I love you" one more time. But I'll carry that kiss forever, Until the end of mine. **[Outro — Solo piano, almost spoken]** The house is quiet now, little buddy. And I don't know how to sleep. I still look down beside my chair, Hoping you're there by my feet. You were the best friend I ever had. The kind this world can't replace. And if I could have one more moment... I'd get down on that floor... Look into those little eyes... And kiss your sweet face. **[Long pause — barely a whisper]** I love you, Jax. I thought I'd see you later. I really thought I'd see you later. **[Piano fades into silence]**