Back in August

Lyrics

Verse 1
Every April
Suitcase on the kitchen chair
Daddy folding flannel shirts
Mama twisting all her hair
Coffee getting cold
Cartoons humming low
Me and my little brother
Blocking the door, saying "don't go"

Chorus
But every spring the tide calls you away
Leaves finger-paint hands on the windowpane
July birthdays with an empty chair
Blowing out candles to an empty prayer
Yeah, the river keeps on taking you
While we circle days on the calendar, too
You chase the waves
And we chase your shadow through the rooms
Till you come back in August
Or at least we hope it's soon

Verse 2
School year pictures
You in some old borrowed frame
Mama says, "He loves you, baby"
But it still stings the same
I wear your ball cap
To every little league game
Cheering for my brother
So he won’t feel the blame

Chorus
‘Cause every spring the tide calls you away
Leaves finger-paint hands on the windowpane
July birthdays with an empty chair
Blowing out candles to an empty prayer
Yeah, the river keeps on taking you
While we circle days on the calendar, too
You chase the waves
And we chase your shadow through the rooms
Till you come back in August
Or at least we hope it's soon

Bridge
First of August
Sun beating down on the yard
Sprinkler going
Chalk castles drawn on the drive so hard
I hear gravel crunch
Heart jumps, I freeze
Brother with a water gun
Drops it right to his knees

Verse 3
There you are
On the porch in that old blue cap (hey)
Smelling like the ocean
With a duffel on your back
You open up your arms
Say, "I came home early this year"
My brother shouts your name
I just stand there in my tears

Chorus
Every spring the tide pulls you away
Leaves finger-paint hands on the windowpane
But this August you walk through the door
Boots on the floor, you’re not gone anymore
Yeah, the river tried to keep you
But you swore you'd make it back to us two
You chased the waves
We chased your shadow through the rooms
Now you're back in August
And I’m crying into you (oh Daddy)
Yeah, you’re back in August
And I’m crying into you