[Tone: Emotional, reflective, NF-style storytelling Theme: Loss, regret, faith, time, love that still exists] [Intro – soft, distant] I still smell it sometimes… Like I’m there again. [Verse 1] There’s a chair at the table that nobody fills Still hear your voice when the house goes still Hands always busy, heart always calm You fixed everything without making a sound I was too young to know what I had Too busy growing up, too busy mad Too busy thinking there’d be “next time” Didn’t know forever had an end line [Pre-Chorus] Now the silence talks louder than words And it hurts ‘cause I finally learned [Chorus] I’d give anything just to sit in that room Hear you hum while the dinner’s almost through I’d trade all the years I wasted away For one more “how was your day?” Grandma, if heaven has kitchens and light Save me a seat, I’ll be there one night Till then I’m trying to live in a way That makes you proud when you say my name [Verse 2] You saw things I never could see When everyone broke, you believed in me You told my dad what we couldn’t say You carried the weight in the quietest way I think about nights I should’ve stayed longer Times I felt small but you made me stronger Now I replay every missed goodbye Like if I think hard enough you’ll reply [Chorus] I’d give anything just to sit in that room Hear you laugh at the jokes we overused I’d trade all the stress I’m drowning in For one more prayer before we dig in Grandma, if you can hear me tonight I hope you’re warm, I hope you’re alright I’m still figuring faith, still making mistakes Still trying to walk the path you paved [Bridge – spoken/half-rap] I didn’t know you were hurting You never showed it You were strong so I assumed you were golden That guilt sits heavy but I know you’d say “Don’t carry that, child, live your days” [Verse 3] Now Christmas feels colder, food tastes bland I understand now what I didn’t back then Love isn’t loud, it’s showing up It’s staying late, it’s filling cups I cook sometimes and I swear you’re there Like heaven leaks through the open air If God is real the way I believe Then you’re closer than it feels to me [Final Chorus] I’d give anything just to sit in that room But I’ll honor you by how I move I’ll love my family, I’ll slow my pace I’ll try to give warmth in a broken place Grandma, I hope when you look down You see I’m fighting, I’m still around Not perfect, but I’m trying to be The man you always saw in me [Outro] Dinner’s ready… I’m just late this time.

Grandma’s Kitchen