Verse 1
Promise me you’ll call when the plane touches down
Even if it’s late, even if I’m asleep
Promise you’ll stop saying, “It’s nothing, I’m fine,”
When something hurts somewhere I cannot see
Promise you’ll wear the coat I leave by the door
And take your time when the roads turn white
Laugh if you want, say I worry too much
Then promise me again before we turn out the light
Pre-Chorus
You think I’m asking for tomorrow
Like tomorrow’s ours to keep
But underneath the little ones
There’s one I cannot speak
Chorus
Promise me you’ll stay one breath longer
Be the last light left in the room
Let my hand go cold inside of yours
Before I ever have to let go of you
I know forever has an ending
I know one heart has to break
So promise me you’ll be the one still here
When there’s no more me to save
Promise me
Verse 2
Sometimes you say, “Next summer,” like it’s waiting there
Like every year just lines up after this
We talk about a house we’ve never even seen
Like somehow we’ve already lived in it
I catch myself saving little things to tell you first
Like every road still ends with coming home
I didn’t know forever could become a habit
Until I couldn’t picture growing old alone
Pre-Chorus
I can see the years so clearly
Every wrinkle, every room
Maybe that’s why I can’t see past them
To the morning after you
Refrain
Promise me you’ll stay one breath longer
Be the last light left in the room
Let my hand go cold inside of yours
Before I ever have to let go of you
Promise me
Bridge
I know what I’m asking
I know it isn’t fair
I’m handing you the sorrow
I don’t know how to bear
I’m asking you to miss me
In every room we made
To learn to sleep without me
Because I couldn’t do the same
No one gets to choose
Who gets to go, who has to stay
But if love has made me selfish—
Just promise me anyway
Final Chorus
Promise me you’ll stay one breath longer
Even if that breath tears you in two
Let the last thing that I ever lose
Be the fear of losing you
But I can’t promise I would survive it
I can’t lie and say I could
So love me enough to bear the thing
I know I never could
Promise me you’ll be the last light
Promise you’ll outlive the dark
Promise when my heart goes quiet
I’ll still be living in your heart
Outro
You don’t have to understand
Just be there holding my hand
And when you say you can’t promise—
Promise me again.
