Before Hello

There’s a quiet in the hallway tonight
Like the world’s holding its breath
A tiny pair of shoes by the door
Never got to take first steps
Dreams painted all in gray and white
Whispered secrets in the air
But the silence answered back too soon

Now Mom is knocking on heaven’s door
With a love she can’t pour out anymore
Saying, “Baby, I was ready for you”
But goodbye came before hello ever could
And the angels, do they know your name?
Did they hold you when you slipped away?
She’s calling through the great unknown
“I’ll meet you somehow… you’re not alone”

There’s a lullaby she never sang
Still caught inside her throat
Every note a shattered dream
Every word she never spoke
She traces circles on her skin
Where life once softly grew
Now she’s learning how to live again
With a piece gone she never knew

The clock keeps ticking, cold and slow
But time won’t heal; what it doesn’t know

Now she’s knocking on heaven’s door
With a love she can’t pour out anymore
Saying, “Baby, I was ready for you”
But goodbye came before hello ever could
And the angels, do they know your name?
Did they hold you when you slipped away?
She’s calling through the great unknown
“I’ll meet you somehow… you’re not alone”

If there’s a place where lost things go
Where broken hearts can finally know
Then save a light, keep it warm
Until she finds her way through the storm

She’ll bring the stories, the lullabies
The kisses saved, the endless nights
Oh, she’ll be there… she swears she will

Still knocking on heaven’s door
With a love that lives forevermore
Saying, “Baby, I’m coming to you”
Where goodbye turns into hello for good
And the angels will announce your name
As she holds you just the same
No more silence, no more loneliness 
I’m finally home… you’re finally in my arms

Before hello… there was love
And after goodbye… there’s still love

Emotional acoustic guitar country sound