Hunter’s Song

[[Verse 1]
When I heard you were gone, I didn’t believe a word they said
Said it was violence, just a headline I read
But you were just laughin’ last week at the park
Now I’m standin’ here in black, and I still don’t know

[Verse 2]
We grew up side by side in that small town
But we drifted like smoke when the years rolled on
Thought I had time to call — turns out I was wrong

[Chorus]
‘Cause how could it be true? You were just here
Shootin' bucks, talkin’ loud
Now there’s sirens and silence, and you disappeared
I wish I had reached out more over the years
We grew up together, then we grew apart
Now there's a hole the size of you in my heart

[Verse 3]
They said it was quick — wrong place, wrong time
Just an innocent caught in some coward’s crime
I stare at your picture like you’re still gonna call
But I’m talkin' to the shadows and gettin’ nothin’ at all

[Chorus]
‘Cause how could it be true? You were just here
Talkin' dreams, messin’ ‘round, actin’ like we'd never disappear
Now I’m standin’ over your body, grippin’ my shirt
Wishing I had reached out more through the years
We grew up together, then we grew apart
Now I carry your name in the cracks of my heart

[Bridge]
If I’d known that goodbye was the last time I'd see you
I’d have said all the things that I meant to
Now I just hope you’re somewhere safe and free
And you know you meant the damn world to me

[Final Chorus]
‘Cause how could it be true? You were just here
You didn’t get to grow old, didn’t get your graduation
Now I'm haunted by the words I didn’t get clear
I wish I had reached out more, made it all sincere
We grew up together, then we grew apart
But I’ll never forget you — you’re etched in my heart

[Outro]
Yeah, we grew up together…
And I wish I’d told you how much you mattered to me