[Verse 1]
You were knee-high
Life jacket big, eyes bigger
Sand in your curls
Sticky fingers from the freezer pops
We skipped stones
Counted every skipping ring
You laughed when mine sank fast
Said, “Let me show you how it’s done,” real slick
Turned my back
Just a second, I swear
Answered one dumb text
Chased one joke in the group chat
Turned around
Whole world gone crooked
People yelling your name
Water quiet like it did nothing
[Chorus]
Now it’s just ripples in my chest
Every wave sound callin’ you back
Got your name trapped deep in my breath
Say it, choke, can’t get it out past that
Little cousin, why you leave so fast?
Your towel on the chair still wet
Every laugh replay, then it cracks
I lost you to the water
Now I drown in the “what if I had…”
[Verse 2]
Your mama in the sand
Knees gave out when they pulled you
I tried mouth to mouth
Like YouTube could teach me miracles
Paramedics in a rush
Clock louder than the siren
They said, “We did all we can”
But I still hear you cryin’
Whole fam in black
Tiny suit on a tiny frame
Cartoon tie you picked yourself
I couldn’t even say your name
They said you in a better place
But all I see is that shore
Your flip-flops by the cooler
Your footprints leadin’ nowhere anymore
[Chorus]
Now it’s just ripples in my chest
Every wave sound callin’ you back
Got your name trapped deep in my breath
Say it, choke, can’t get it out past that
Little cousin, why you leave so fast?
Your towel on the chair still wet
Every laugh replay, then it cracks
I lost you to the water
Now I drown in the “what if I had…”
[Bridge]
I blame the sun
I blame the sand
I blame that text
Then I blame my hands
I see your float
In every dream
I hear your joke
In every stream (yeah)
If there’s a shore
Where you stand safe
Save me a spot
I’ll meet you there someday
[Chorus]
Now it’s just ripples in my chest
Every wave sound callin’ you back
Got your name trapped deep in my breath
Say it, choke, can’t get it out past that
Little cousin, why you leave so fast?
Your towel on the chair still wet
Every laugh replay, then it cracks
I lost you to the water
Now I drown in the “what if I had…”