Three Years Gone

[Verse 1]
Hey brother
AV
Been three years now
I still reach for my phone
Then remember somehow
Your little girl's growing
I see photos sometimes
Same eyes as you
Same sideways smile
[Chorus]
You’ve been gone three years
But you’re here in her face
In the way that she laughs
In the space that you left
I held her once
Tiny hand round my thumb
Now she’s getting older
And I’m scared I’ll miss her grow up
Like I missed your last goodbye
[Verse 2]
I remember that morning
Hospital light
She slept on my chest
You were tired
But bright
I promised I’d be there
Every birthday
Each fall
Then the world fell apart
And I dropped every call
[Chorus]
You’ve been gone three years
But you’re here in her face
In the way that she laughs
In the space that you left
I held her once
Tiny hand round my thumb
Now she’s getting older
And I’m scared I’ll miss her grow up
Like I missed your last goodbye
[Bridge]
Do you hear me talking
To the sky in my car? (yeah)
Saying
“I’ll find my way back
I won’t stay this far”
’Cause she deserves stories
Only I can tell
How her dad lit a room
How you fought like hell
[Chorus]
You’ve been gone three years
But you’re here in her face
In the way that she laughs
In the space that you left
I held her once
Tiny hand round my thumb
I swear I’ll be there as she grows
I’ll be there when she asks “who was he?”
I’ll say
“He loved you
Long before you could ever know”

Sparse piano ballad with male vocals; intimate verses sitting close-mic and fragile, then a wider, aching chorus with lifted harmonies and warm pads swelling underneath. Light organic percussion enters second chorus for a subtle rise, leaving space for breathy ad-libs and quiet emotional cracks in the voice.