Empty Chair

You left your coat on the kitchen chair

Mud on the cuffs, cold in the air

The radio coughed through a borrowed song

I counted the minutes till the night was gone

You said, "Don't wait up"

I said, "I won't"

But the hallway kept your shape

Like a promise made of smoke

Come back loud, come back mean

Cut through everything between

I don't need a clean excuse

I need the truth you never use

Come back loud, come back mean

Tell me where you've really been

If we're breaking, break it here

Don't leave me talking to an empty chair

Your brother called from the payphone line

Said you were fine, but he wouldn't say where or why

A matchbook fell from your old blue jeans

Three numbers, one name, and a town I'd never seen

You said, "Don't wait up"

I said, "I won't"

Still your key is in the lock

And my hand is on the phone

Come back loud, come back mean

Cut through everything between

I don't need a clean excuse

I need the truth you never use

Come back loud, come back mean

Tell me where you've really been

If we're breaking, break it here

Don't leave me talking to an empty chair

The neighbors heard us through the wall

Your picture slipped and hit the floor

I won't dress this up as love

Not anymore, not anymore

Come back loud, come back mean

Cut through everything between

I don't need a clean excuse

I need the truth you never use

Come back loud, come back mean

Tell me where you've really been

If we're breaking, break it here

Don't leave me talking to an empty chair

Your coat is still on the kitchen chair

Your coat is still on the kitchen chair

But you are gone, and I am here