The Four-Year Echo

[Intro]
(A repeating acoustic guitar pattern begins alone. A sustained piano note enters slowly, followed by distant cello. The instrumental melody develops before any vocal begins.)

[Verse 1]
Found your writing in my Bible Faded notes beside the Psalms I knew every curve and letter I knew that was your hand Sat there turning through the pages Like I'd found a hidden door And for one quiet little moment It wasn't four years anymore

[Chorus]
(A slow, deliberate kick drum and tambourine enter.) Oh, it's the four-year echo And it's clearer than before You're in every little thing I do A thousand things and more You're the laughter in my laughter You're the faith that carries me I spent four years listening for you Now I hear you inside me

[Verse 2]
I say the things you used to tell me I do the things you used to do Funny what you leave inside somebody Without them ever knowing you do And sometimes when I'm laughing I hear something in the sound For a second I stop breathing Like you're somewhere still around

[Chorus]
(Energy builds slightly. Cello rises and atmospheric electric guitar begins to ring beneath the vocal.) Oh, it's the four-year echo And it's clearer than before You're in every little thing I do A thousand things and more You're the laughter in my laughter You're the faith that carries me I spent four years listening for you Now I hear you inside me

[Bridge]
(The drums grow deeper. Piano opens up and atmospheric guitar rises while the vocal becomes stronger.) I thought that time would take you Piece by piece away That every year between us Would make your memory fade But everything you taught me Keeps showing up somehow I needed you beside me then But I understand it now

I'll keep talking to Jesus I'll keep choosing what is right I'll keep finding something beautiful Even in the darkest night And when this road gets heavy And I don't know where to go I'll follow what you left in me Like the North Star that I know

[Chorus]
(Full energy. Acoustic guitar, piano, cello, drums, atmospheric electric guitar, and restrained ensemble harmonies rise together.) OH, IT'S THE FOUR-YEAR ECHO AND I FINALLY UNDERSTAND YOU DIDN'T ONLY LEAVE ME MEMORIES YOU HELPED MAKE THE MAN I AM YOU'RE THE LAUGHTER IN MY LAUGHTER YOU'RE THE FAITH THAT CARRIES ME I SPENT FOUR YEARS LISTENING FOR YOU WHEN YOUR LOVE WAS LIVING HERE IN ME

SO LET ANOTHER YEAR COME LET THE WHOLE WORLD DISAPPEAR LOVE LIKE YOURS DOESN'T GET QUIETER JUST BECAUSE YOU AREN'T HERE I THOUGHT THE ECHO WAS YOU CALLING FROM SOMEWHERE I COULDN'T SEE

MOM, I FINALLY FOUND YOU

THE ECHO IS IN ME

[Outro]
(The arrangement falls away to the same acoustic guitar and sustained piano from the intro.)

Your handwriting in my Bible Your laughter in my own All the little things you taught me Still leading me back home

Four years tomorrow...

And I still wish you were here

But you're not fading

I'm just learning Where to hear you

(Final piano note fades into silence.)