That house on County Line was painted white and blue,
Mama grew her roses, Daddy fixed what broke in two.
Screen door sang at sunset, porch light pulled me home,
Now there’s nothing but a mailbox and a gravel road alone.
Mama hummed old hymns while the coffee slowly brewed,
Daddy read the weather like he always knew it true.
Sunday coats on hangers, dog hair on the floor,
Funny how you don’t miss something till it ain’t there anymore.
There’s ashes on the doorframe, smoke in every prayer,
Mama’s laugh is in the wind, Daddy’s Bible’s gone to air.
That old dog by the woodpile, always waited just for me,
Now the only thing still breathing is this burn inside of me.
Sheriff’s knock at midnight, boots upon the stair,
Said, “Son, I hate to tell you,” couldn’t make me breathe the air.
Red and blue lights dancing where the garden used to grow,
Flames climbing through the windows like they knew what not to know.
Mama’s ring was twisted, Daddy’s watch turned black,
Fire don’t care about the years it never gives back.
I stood there in my work boots, rain mixed with the ash,
Watching every piece of love turn fragile, then to trash.
There’s ashes on the doorframe, silence in the halls,
Every wall that held our laughter couldn’t stand up to the fall.
I’d trade every tomorrow just to hear one more “hey,”
But fire don’t leave you nothin’ it don’t steal away.
Found your wedding picture melted in the frame,
Daddy’s ring in the dirt, still wearing Mama’s name.
That collar by the fence post, burned into the wire,
He was brave right to the end, chasing us through fire.
Sometimes late at night I swear I hear his bark,
Scratching at the back door somewhere in the dark.
I reach down without thinking, just like I always did,
Then remember I’m the only one left to be a kid.
They say time’s a river, it’ll carry me through,
But it crawls like cold molasses pulling me from you.
Faith feels like a stranger I don’t recognize,
When heaven took my whole world in one hungry night.
Mama said “forgive fast,” Daddy said “stand tall,”
I’m trying to do both but I stumble and fall.
I still talk to empty rooms, still answer when I pray,
Like love don’t know the difference ‘tween the gone and yesterday.
There’s ashes on the doorframe, stars where the roof once was,
Mama, Daddy, old blue dog, I hope you felt my love.
If heaven’s got a front porch, I know where you’ll be,
Till then I’ll sit with the embers and what’s left of me.
That house on County Line don’t stand anymore,
But I carry every room when I walk out the door.
