[Verse 1]
Alarm rings
he up before sunrise
Cold coffee
same jacket
same bus ride
Hands cracked
from the shift he just survived
Clocked out at midnight
now it’s 6:05
Kids plates set
but his chair stay empty
He kiss a sleepy forehead
then he gone gently
Second job name tag
creased on his chest
Whole life spent
trading time for a paycheck
He missed the first steps
and the school play
They complain he "never there"
what can he say
He see the lights on
through the window when he leaves
Mumbling to himself
"this what love really means"
[Chorus]
Two jobs
one heart
it’s breaking in between
He carry whole worlds
that they only see on screens
He fade into the background
like a coat upon a seat
But that ghost at the table
he the reason that they eat (yeah, yeah)
That ghost at the table
he the reason that they eat
[Verse 2]
He hear them talk loud
"why you always gone?"
Mama try to cover
"he just working hard"
He swallow every word
like a nail in his tongue
Only thing he answer:
"how my baby son?"
Birthday candles
FaceTime on a break
Singing off-key
by the loading gate
Co-workers laugh
but he turn away to hide
A grown man crying
over time he can’t buy
Bills on the counter
stack like bricks
He build them a roof
with his aching wrists
One day they might notice
who patched each tear
Or maybe just his jacket
hanging on the chair
[Chorus]
Two jobs
one heart
it’s breaking in between
He carry whole worlds
that they only see on screens
He fade into the background
like a coat upon a seat
But that ghost at the table
he the reason that they eat (oh, oh)
Yeah that ghost at the table
he the reason that they eat
[Bridge]
Maybe when they older
they gon’ read those scars
Trace every line
back to empty jars
Maybe then "where were you?"
turns into "how’d you stand?"
And "you were never there"
turns into "you raised this fam"
[Chorus]
Two jobs
one heart
it’s breaking in between
He carry whole worlds
that they only see on screens
He fade into the background
like a coat upon a seat
But that ghost at the table
he the reason that they eat (yeah, yeah)
That ghost at the table
he the reason that they eat