When He’s Gone

Lyrics

[Verse 1] You left your boots by the door Like you’d come back for more But the house kept score On every slammed-up drawer Your chair still faces the wall I trip on it in the hall Your name in my mouth Tastes old, tastes small [Pre-Chorus] And I learned your shape From the space you made A ghost in the frame A debt I can’t pay [Chorus] When he’s gone, I don’t feel free When he’s gone, it still hurts me When he’s gone, I hold the line But I don’t love dad when he’s gone No, I don’t love dad when he’s gone [Verse 2] There’s a crack in the sink tile From the night you stayed a while Then you vanished clean Like you were never seen Mom folds your shirts in two Like that makes them less of you I watch the hems go gray In the morning light [Pre-Chorus] And I learned your shape From the space you made A ghost in the frame A debt I can’t pay [Chorus] When he’s gone, I don’t feel free When he’s gone, it still hurts me When he’s gone, I hold the line But I don’t love dad when he’s gone No, I don’t love dad when he’s gone [Bridge] If you want my truth It’s a split-screen bruise Half me wants the call Half me wants it all to fall I keep the key in the bowl Like a joke with no soul If you knock, I know I’ll still open slow [Final Chorus] When he’s gone, I don’t feel free When he’s gone, it still hurts me When he’s gone, I hold the line But I don’t love dad when he’s gone No, I don’t love dad when he’s gone When he’s gone, I feel the cut When he’s gone, I still wake up When he’s gone, I’m not your shrine But I don’t love dad when he’s gone No, I don’t love dad when he’s gone