[Verse 1]
He flinched at every shadow
Curled tight in that steel cage
Teeth at the bars each morning
Eyes older than his age
They tagged him “just too broken”
I heard them down the hall
But when I slid down on the concrete
He tucked his head into my palm
[Chorus]
We were the only ones he trusted
In a world that called him “lost”
He gave us every trembling heartbeat
We fought like fire
We paid that cost
They saw a number on a paper
We saw a soul who’d finally breathe
He learned to love our gentle voices
Then they took him where we couldn’t reach
[Verse 2]
My coworker brought old blankets
Smelled like home and summer rain
He’d press his chest against the metal
Just to hear us say his name
He’d pace when boots came closer
But soften when it’s just us two
He’d lean his weight into our denim
Like he knew what we’d do
[Chorus]
We were the only ones he trusted
In a world that called him “lost”
He gave us every trembling heartbeat
We fought like fire
We paid that cost
They saw a number on a paper
We saw a soul who’d finally breathe
He learned to love our gentle voices
Then they took him where we couldn’t reach
[Bridge]
I still see that last appointment
Clipboard shaking in my hand (oh God)
We stood our ground in that small office
Said “he’s trying
Give him a chance”
But ink dried colder than the winter
And time ran faster than our pleas
So we held his face between us
While he slipped into our sleeves
[Chorus]
We were the only ones he trusted
When the whole damn world let go
He left this earth on our shoulders
Hearing “good boy
You’re not alone”
They saw a number on a paper
We carry everything he’d be
He learned to love our broken voices
Now every tear is part of his memory
[Outro]
He flinched at every shadow
Til we taught him how to sleep
If love could’ve saved his body
He’d be running
Running free