Mercy in Our Parent's Cedar Trunk

 

[Verse 1]

Old trunk by the bedroom wall Corners cracked Brass gone dull Smell of cedar Dust And rain Names half-faded on the lid Your mama’s dress My father’s coat One torn letter Three love notes Ticket stubs and baby shoes Every weight this house once knew [Chorus] Lay your head down Love Right here All these miles have brought us near Every scuff and every tear Folded into mercy We belong in broken things Hands and hearts and fraying seams I can feel the quiet sing Mercy in the cedar grain [Verse 2] Your brothers left in borrowed boots Came home taller Carrying truth Your sister’s laugh still haunts that scarf Smells like summers we outgrew We sat up through fearful news Tracing maps Saying prayers Tea gone cold Your shaking hand I just held it Stayed right there [Chorus] Lay your head down Love Right here All these miles have brought us near Every scuff and every tear Folded into mercy We belong in broken things Hands and hearts and fraying seams I can feel the quiet sing Mercy in the cedar grain [Bridge] [Strings and piano swell gently] If your knees give way I’ll kneel beside you (oh) If your voice runs dry I’ll hum your tune If the dark feels one room too wide I will pull the night in close with you We have shared our smallest sorrows We have shared our borrowed bread There is grace in saying “stay” When every fear says “go instead” [Chorus] Lay your head down Love Right here All these miles have brought us near Every scuff and every tear Folded into mercy We belong in broken things Hands and hearts and fraying seams Every breath a soft amen Carried in this simple hymn I can feel the quiet sing Mercy in the cedar grain