(Verse 1)
The week is done, the miles are run, the reels are changed and fixed
The empire of my hands and will, a world of nuts and bolts and tricks
I fell asleep in my own chair, a peace I hadn't known
A quiet moment, earned and paid, a solid, steady stone
And I thought of you, the way you slept, the way you let me near
The way you chased away the ghosts, the way you calmed the fear
Of a man who thought he wasn't good enough, a man who'd lost his way
A man who's finally coming home to stay.
(Chorus)
I want to build a zoo and a fort with you.
A place to protect the life that's new.
A place with room for our hearts to grow.
A place to watch our children's spirits go.
I want to build a world that's not their own.
A world that's built on a foundation stone.
Of reason, logic, passion, trust.
A world built by the two of us.
(Verse 2)
I'm not a traditional man, their traditions aren't my own
I don't believe in the hollow words, the god on a golden throne
I don't believe in the "$tate" that holds our children as its slaves
I believe in the freedom that our own two hands can save
My life is complex, but it's simple, too, it's a cause and effect
A nature and a nurture, a deep and deep respect
For the man I've fought to become, the man you see in me
And the man I want to be, for you, to be free.
(Chorus)
I want to build a zoo and a fort with you.
A place to protect the life that's new.
A place with room for our hearts to grow.
A place to watch our children's spirits go.
I want to build a world that's not their own.
A world that's built on a foundation stone.
Of reason, logic, passion, trust.
A world built by the two of us.
(Bridge)
I have inertia, things in motion, debts I have to pay
But I want to change the course, I want to find a way
To build a healthy marriage without the wasted drama and the cost
To build a life that's not been lost, but a life that's been won
From the wreckage of the past, from the damage that was done
I want to teach you to ride my wheel, so we can go together
And face any kind of weather.
(Guitar Solo - A powerful, melodic, and hopeful solo. It's not aggressive, but it's full of forward momentum. It's the sound of a truck driving down the road, not away from something, but towards something. It's the sound of a future being built.)
(Chorus - Full power, with backing vocals)
I want to build a zoo and a fort with you!
A place to protect the life that's new!
A place with room for our hearts to grow!
A place to watch our children's spirits go!
I want to build a world that's not their own!
A world that's built on a foundation stone!
Of reason, logic, passion, trust!
A world built by the two of us!
(Outro - The music breaks down to a single, clean guitar, and a voice speaks softly, intimately)
I want kids.
I want a partner who will stand by me.
I want to build a world with you.
A world where our children are not slaves.
A world where we are free.
I want to build our zoo.
And our fort.
Together.
(Fade out)
Click, click. Click.