3 a.m. Didn't Save Him

Phone rings at 3 in the mornin'

Name on the screen, an old war friend of mine.

Thumb shakes as I slide it open,

Say, "Buddy you alright?"

On the other side

He says, "He's gone"

Just like that, then silence.

"Walked out to the back porch and left his boots inside.

We thought we had time,

To pull him from that darkness"

I'm holdin' the phone like I'm holdin' my breath,

But 3AM didn't save him.

We were one call late to his last step.

I see sand in our laces,

Laughin' through the tracers,

Swearin' we'd get home.

Flag-draped

Picture in the hallway,

His boy wearin' his dog tags

Growin' up alone.

He says, "He's gone"

Just like that, then silence.

"Walked out to the back porch and left his boots inside.

We thought we had time,

To pull him from that darkness"

I'm holdin' the phone like I'm holdin' my breath,

But 3AM didn't save him.

We were one call late to his last step.

How many names on our shoulders?

How many voices goin' colder?

We say, "Call me any time you need me"

But he needed us before that ring.

Before that ring.

He says, "He's gone"

Just like that, then silence.

"Walked out to the back porch and left his boots inside.

We thought we had time,

To pull him from that darkness"

I'm holdin' the phone like I'm holdin' my breath,

But 3AM didn't save him.

We were one call late to his last step.

Phone still

Glowin' on the nightstand

I whisper his name

Into the dark

"Wish you'd called me

One night sooner"

As if he can hear

A cracked-up heart