[Verse 1]
Every summer I land
with my suitcase full of heat
Mama says, "Come here, baby"
and the whole house wakes up to me
Aunties in the kitchen
kids run straight through the hall
My name sounds different there
like it belongs to them all
[Pre-Chorus]
And I feel it in my chest
when they pull me in so tight
Like I was gone for years
but I just got here tonight
[Chorus]
Struga, hold me close
Struga, don’t let go
(hold me close)
Every summer, I remember
how to feel at home
Struga, say my name
Struga, stay the same
(stay the same)
Every summer, when I leave you
it hurts in a different way
[Verse 2]
We sit out by the water
with plates of fruit and bread
Stories passed like silver cups
from the old ones to my head
Cousins laugh in two languages
I answer like I can
Half my heart was raised there
even if I live far lands
[Pre-Chorus]
Then the nights go soft and long
and I try to keep them still
I know the day will come
when the suitcase swallows me again
[Chorus]
Struga, hold me close
Struga, don’t let go
(hold me close)
Every summer, I remember
how to feel at home
Struga, say my name
Struga, stay the same
(stay the same)
Every summer, when I leave you
it hurts in a different way
[Bridge]
At the gate, nobody speaks
just hugs that say enough
My grandma taps my cheek
like she’s trying to save my face
The road back takes my voice
I look out through the glass
And all those hands are waving
like they know I’ll come back
[Chorus]
Struga, hold me close
Struga, don’t let go
(hold me close)
Every summer, I remember
how to feel at home
Struga, say my name
Struga, stay the same
(stay the same)
Every summer, when I leave you
I leave a piece behind