Don’t Forget Me When I Die

If I go first

promise me this

hold my name

inside your fist

Don’t forget me when I die

when they dress me up and lie

say I’m “in a better place”

while you’re staring at my face

Don’t forget me when I’m gone

when the band packs up the song

when the flowers start to fade

keep my memory awake

If I don’t wake up tomorrow

and my phone stays lit with messages

read them like a borrowed

heartbeat, beating through the sentences

Scroll through every stupid photo

every crooked little grin I tried to hide

let the silence hit in slow-mo

let it hurt, let it sting inside

Play my jokes back in your head

hear the punchlines I never said

all the plans that we postponed

all the times you felt alone

Yeah, I know I caused you pain

left you hanging in the rain

if my shadow has to leave

let my stories still breathe

Don’t forget me when I die

when they dress me up and lie

say I’m “in a better place”

while you’re staring at my face

Don’t forget me when I’m gone

when the band packs up the song

when the flowers start to fade

keep my memory awake

When you pass my old address

and the curtains haven’t moved in years

if my window looks a mess

wipe your eyes, don’t hide the tears

Talk about me in the kitchen

over cold food, late-night dishes (yeah)

tell the truth about my distance

and the ways you still forgive it

Keep my hoodie in your closet

even if it doesn’t fit your style

take it out like it’s a promise

wear it on your worst nights for a while

Let the fabric hold the scent

of bad choices, good intent

I was broken, I was trying

still afraid of really dying

Don’t forget me when I die

when they dress me up and lie

say I’m “in a better place”

while you’re staring at my face

Don’t forget me when I’m gone

when the band packs up the song

when the flowers start to fade

keep my memory awake

If I turn into a story

tell it like you’re there again (there again)

not a statue, not a glory

just a messed up, hurting friend

Talk to me inside your bedroom

whisper secrets to the air

if it feels like I don’t answer

it still means that I was there

Don’t forget me when I die

when they dress me up and lie

say I’m “in a better place”

while you’re staring at my face

Don’t forget me when I’m gone

when the band packs up the song

when the flowers start to fade

keep my memory awake