[Verse 1]
Sand in his shoes on a rooftop rail
Padawan braid and a borrowed faith
Argued at dawn with a tired old sage
Still bowed when they called his name
Smiled at a boy with a crooked grin
Said, "You’ll be the one, I’ll bring you in"
Watched a red blade cut the air in two
Lost a father, gained a wound
[Chorus]
Hello there
To the boy, to the war, to the ghosts in the fire
Hello there
To the love that he buried under armor and wire
From temple halls
To burning walls
Every greeting hides a prayer
Hello there
I’m still here
[Verse 2]
Armor and ash on a rain-soaked deck
Falling through smoke with his heart half wrecked
Held out a hand over lava and rage
Heard a brother break his name
Carried that scream to a desert cave
Changed his robe, changed his face, kept the same old shame
Watched twin suns lift on a child he saved
Spoke to the wind more than he ever prayed
[Chorus]
Hello there
To the kid with his father’s stare and wild, bright plans
Hello there
From the man who once lost that same small hand
From whispered lies
To hopeful eyes
Every joke is covering fear
Hello there
I’m still here
[Bridge]
Years blur by in the rust and heat
Old man walking where the storms all meet
Talks to an absence that answers slow
Learns to let go, to let it grow
Then a dark mask hisses out his name
Red light painting all the years they gave
"I will do what I must," he says
And finally forgives himself
[Chorus]
Hello there
To the friend in the mask, to the boy in the darkened room
Hello there
To the farm kid watching one old cloak fall through
From final breath
To what comes next
Every fading step feels clear
Hello there
I’m still here
[Outro]
[softly]
Hello there
I was always here