A Namesake Boy Lyrics

Your mother's upstairs resting her feet

I'm in the kitchen stealing something sweet

Table's set and the drinks are poured

Family that's coming is at the door

Salads made and the breads been cut

Silverware's out and it's just enough

To go around the table with a widow's knife

That used to belong to my uncle's wife

And it's hard not to notice

That someone's missing

And at the table there's a new addition

A namesake boy but he's just a baby

Desserts being served and coffee's goin' round

Otis is making a God awful sound

Stumbling this way through a Methodist hymn

On a piano that up until now's never sinned

People packing up to go back home

Collecting dishes and memories they'll own

Hugs and kisses with good health wishes

Everybody said everything was delicious

And it's hard not to notice

That someone's missing

And at the table there's a new addition

A namesake boy but he's just a baby

Locking up and turning lights out

Someone dropped a binky on the floor by the couch

Sitting at the table in the dark with a drink

My father's ghost was here I think

Knowing someday It'll be me that's gone

Missing from the table while life goes on

It'd be hard to imagine a richer life

Better kids or more loving wife

And it's hard not to notice

There's a new tradition

A different prayer and a family musician

A namesake boy who used to be a baby