[Verse 1]
You left your coffee on the counter
Half a ring on the wooden grain
That’s the shape you carved in all of us
Half here
Half a runaway
Mom learned how to fake her laughter
I learned how to read the room
Every time a door slammed somewhere
I swore it walked in as you
[Chorus]
I built this paper house
Father
Out of all the words you never said
Taped up the cracks with old pictures
Smiling faces
But they bend
You taught me love means leaving early
Taught me how to lie
Then stay
Now every time I try to hold somebody
They feel you pulling me away
(you pull me away)
[Verse 2]
Got your jawline in my mirror
Got your temper in my chest
I keep turning into thunder
When they just needed a light touch at best
I say “I’m fine” like it’s a reflex
Laugh it off
Then go numb
Your shadow sitting at my dinner
On a chair that’s always one
[Chorus]
I built this paper house
Father
Out of all the words you never said
Taped up the cracks with old pictures
Smiling faces
But they bend
You showed me love can sound like silence
Echo down an empty hall
So every time they say they’ll stay beside me
I only hear you let me fall
(let me fall)
[Bridge]
Do you ever wake up wondering my birthday?
Do you ever try my last name on your mouth? (oh)
If I called you up and asked you why you left us
Would you hang up
Or finally say it out loud?
[Chorus]
I built this paper house
Father
And I’m setting little corners free
Watch the ashes write their own story
Over everything you didn’t see
You gave me all this broken language
I’m teaching it to heal somehow
So if I ever hold a tiny hand
I’ll be the one that doesn’t walk out
(doesn’t walk out)