Four Pounds

Verse 1

Soft felt piano and voice

They let me hold you through the little round doorMy whole hand's bigger than the rest of youThere's a wire on your heel and a tube by your noseAnd a sign on the plastic that says "gently, please"

Pre-Chorus

The nurse says "talk to herShe knows your voice already"So I tell you about the snowAnd the room we painted yellow

Chorus

You're four pounds of everything I've gotFour pounds of every prayer I never thoughtI'd say out loud to anyoneFour pounds of my heart in a plastic boxThe doctors say it's day by daySo I'll be here every dayYou're four poundsAnd you weigh more than the world

Verse 2

Your mama's sleeping in the chair with her shoes still onI've learned the names of every nurse and every alarmI count your breaths the way my father counted rows of cornLike if I keep on counting, nothing's ever gonna go wrong

Pre-Chorus

The nurse says "talk to herShe knows your voice already"So I tell you about your grandpaAnd the song I'll sing you when you're ready

Chorus

You're four pounds of everything I've gotFour pounds of every prayer I never thoughtI'd say out loud to anyoneFour pounds of my heart in a plastic boxThe doctors say it's day by daySo I'll be here every dayYou're four poundsAnd you weigh more than the world

Bridge

Everything drops to piano and a single held note

And one day you'll be bigger than this roomYou'll slam the door and tell me I don't understandAnd I'll remember when you fitIn the palm of my hand

Final Chorus

Gospel choir and strings, voice cracking wide open

You were four pounds of everything I've gotFour pounds of every prayer I never thoughtI'd say out loud to anyoneNow we're going home, and the box is goneThe doctors said it's day by dayAnd we made it every dayYou were four poundsAnd you still weigh more than the world

Outro

Piano alone, whispered

Going homeGently, please