The House on Meridian

Verse 1

They put a sign out on Monday By Friday it was sold Some couple from Cincinnati Loved the windows, I was told

They’ll tear the wallpaper down Probably open up the stairs They’ll never know my brother Split his chin right over there

There’s a stain beneath the carpet From a Christmas tree in ‘09 Every room has something in it That won’t show up online

Chorus

The house on Meridian Belongs to somebody new They’ll paint over the kitchen They’ll never know it blue They’ll fill it up with birthdays And arguments of their own Funny how a house keeps standing When everybody leaves home

Verse 2

I walked through one last time After everything was gone Rooms look so much smaller Without anything we owned

I sat down on the staircase Where Dad took prom-night pictures Could almost hear Mom yelling “You’re gonna wrinkle that dress”

Then the realtor opened the door Said, “Take all the time you need” Like there was any amount of time That could give it back to me

Chorus

The house on Meridian Belongs to somebody new They’ll hang pictures where ours were They’ll have their own bad news They’ll fill it up with Christmas And people coming home Funny how a house keeps standing When everybody moves on

Bridge

Maybe that’s what houses are for Holding us awhile Keeping all the echoes After we stop making sound

Then handing someone else the keys And starting over again.

Final Chorus

So goodbye, Meridian Take care of whoever comes next Give them somewhere safe to fall apart And somewhere to catch their breath Let their kids mark up the doorframe Let them hate you, then miss you when they’re grown Keep standing there without us

And make somebody else a home.