[Verse 1]
Your boots by the door
Your keys in the bowl
You were home by the clock
But you weren't home at all
You’d say, “I’m here, son”
From the edge of the room
Like a chair in the corner
That nobody uses
[Pre-Chorus]
You'd look my way
Then look away
A whole hard mile
In a few short words
I learned real young
What silence means
When a man can stay
And still leave hurt
[Chorus]
You were there, but not really
There, but not really
I could reach out my hand
And still feel empty
You were there, but not really
There, but not really
Same old porch light glow
No heart in the memory
[Verse 2]
You showed up for the photo
For the game on Friday night
But missed every question
I had burning inside
I kept my straight face
Kept my voice small
You taught me how to stand up
While you taught me nothing at all
[Pre-Chorus]
Now I see that boy
In the mirror glass
Trying to make a home
From the pieces he had
I don't hate your ghost
I just hate the space
That a man can fill
And never stay
[Chorus]
You were there, but not really
There, but not really
I could reach out my hand
And still feel empty
You were there, but not really
There, but not really
Same old porch light glow
No heart in the memory
[Bridge]
I learned to fix my own fence
Tie my own tie
Swore I'd answer when they call
And mean it every time
If I got your shadow
I made something new
A little more honest
A little more true
[Chorus]
You were there, but not really
There, but not really
I could reach out my hand
And still feel empty
You were there, but not really
There, but not really
Same old porch light glow
No heart in the memory