Thornton Embers

Verse 1
(G) I’m staring at the (C) Houston skyline from this (G) concrete room
(G) While the city noise (D) tries to chase away the gloom
(G) I’ve got a stack of (C) textbooks and a (G) future to build
(G) But there’s a quiet (D) space in me that (G) never quite gets filled
(C) I pick up the phone and I (G) look at your (Em) name
(C) But my thumb freezes (D) up and I (G) feel a bit of shame.
Verse 2
(G) I’m thinking 'bout that (C) Thornton dirt and the (G) family trees
(G) Where the air is (D) thick and it’s easier to breathe
(G) We’d light a fire in the (C) pit and let the (G) cedar smoke rise
(G) Passing that (D) whiskey glass and (G) cutting through the lies
(C) Sharing a (D) cigar while we (G) talked about the (Em) score
(C) Of the Astros (D) game or who was (G) winning the war.
Chorus
(C) We’d talk about (G) politics and (D) what the future (G) holds
(C) Mapping out a (G) story that has (D) yet to be told
(C) But I never said (G) I miss you, and I (D) never said (Em) I care
(C) I just let the (G) whiskey smoke (D) hang in the (G) air
(C) Now I’m a hundred miles (G) south and I’m (D) feeling the (Em) cold
(C) ‘Cause this Texas (D) pride is a (C) hard thing to (G) hold.
Bridge
(Em) I want to tell you that I’m (C) struggling, I want to (G) hear your (D) voice
(Em) But I act like (C) being lonely was a (D) god-fearing choice
(C) We traded words on (D) touchdowns and the (G) price of the (Em) land
(C) But I still don't know (D) how to say I (G) need you, old (D) man.
Verse 3 / Outro
(G) So I’ll sit in this (C) apartment and I’ll (G) pour a double neat
(G) And imagine I’m (D) back in that (G) Thornton heat
(G) I’ll call you to**(C)**morrow, or (D) so I’ll (G) pretend
(G) While the shadow of (D) pride is my (C) only (G) friend.
(Slow, lingering strum on the G)

Modern Outlaw Country/Red Dirt Ballad
Tone: Reflective, Masculine, Heavy with Pride