Otis/Carl

[Verse 1]
Well I’m supposed to be stoic
As I wipe the tears off of my face
Watch the ships off the coast of Mexico
Block it out as they roll away
I still see you smiling
Even as I’m selfish as I’ve ever been
See you sitting in your chair
I see you singing happy birthday

[Verse 2]
I got the call in June
But couldn’t bring myself to see you
Or even get you on the phone
I wanted you to remember me in perfection
But really I, I’m just a fucking coward
I couldn’t stand to see you die
And I was dealing with my own shit
If I’m being honest, mom said you’d understand
But I don’t blame you if you didn’t

[Chorus]
And I’m on the docks again
Looking out at that awful ocean
Watching the tide take you away
I know you ain’t resting your bones
I know you ain’t made it back home
At least the loneliness gave you a break

[Verse 3]
We never held a funeral
'Cause of the consequence they bring
Letting go is never easy
Even when you’re empty and even when you're alone
I hope they played you Otis Redding
I hope you heard me hum along
As those arms of yours went down into the dark

[Chorus]
And I’m on the docks again
Looking out at that awful ocean
Watching the tide take you away
I know you ain’t resting your bones
I know you ain’t made it back home
At least the loneliness gave you a break

[Bridge]
And my phone rang a year later
With your smile haunting me
And I finally broke at a rental home
In Joshua Tree
And I tell myself it gets better
But it never gets any easier when your voice
It ain’t on the other side

[Verse 4]
I hope they played you Otis Redding
I hope you remembered I named my guitar
After your favorite singer, your favorite song
And I break down every time I see
That old Spanish nylon that you bought
It never comes off the shelf anymore

[Chorus]
I’m on the docks again
Looking out at that awful ocean
Watching the tide take you away
I know you ain’t resting your bones
I know you ain’t made it back home
But at least the loneliness
At least the loneliness gave you a break