FIRE LINE

there was a girl I loved and I wrote her a song
about being careful who you let into your life
she said it was the most beautiful song she'd ever heard
I think she liked the melody more than the words

our last summer together she took me to a wedding
and we sat on the steps with our knees to our chests
the bride's father held their hands and said
may you always find home in each other

to everything a season
and you're everything you do
you are in charge of words 'til you speak them
and then they're in charge of you

last night I was on the phone with my little brother
he's training to be a firefighter and I wrote down some of the things we talked about
he said it's kind of funny when I think of all the fires I set in that town
and now they're sending me back to put them out

he said my alarm is gonna go off in an hour
tomorrow for sure I'll be sleeping on the fire line
he said it may sound dangerous but when the flames are that far away
you see guys dozing all the time

to everything a season
and you're everything you do
you are in charge of words 'til you speak them
and then they're in charge of you

seems like every day I wake up thinking about the girl I'm trying to forget
and every night I'm in bed thinking of the girl I haven't found yet
I think of that wedding sitting on those steps
how she stared up at the stars and wept

how I told the DJ the neighbors will understand
the brokenhearted need you to turn it up and play it again
I think of my brother and the sky brightening
and fires lit by lightning

to everything a season
and you're everything you do
you are in charge of words 'til you speak them
and then they're in charge of you

when it was time for the champagne toasts the unspeakable got spoke
the unmentionable got mentioned
and that's two things my girl could always use
more drinks and more attention

he said I feel like something's been wrong my whole life
that a lot of folk probably feel that way but I'm talking about me tonight

to everything a season
and you're everything you do
you are in charge of words 'til you speak them
and then they're in charge of you

we were at a wedding and she led me away
from the hanging lanterns and the makeshift dance floor
and we sat on the back steps with our knees to our chests
she took off her heels and said don't let me forget

 — Life With Others (Part II)