Patch What We Love

Mm-mm
Rain still dripping from the roof
Porch board bent, but the house still breathing
No shame in the scars
We patch what we love

Storm took the gutter, shook the eaves
Left glass on the steps and leaves in the sink
Auntie swept quiet with a wrapper on tight
Kids stood still in the grey morning light

Papa touched the wall like he felt it cry
Said, “This old house seen harder skies”
Grandma held the ladder with both hands strong
Like she’d been holding us up all along

Nobody sang when the first nail fell
Nobody knew if the roof would hold
But this house heard us crying
And never let us go

If the storm came through
But the walls still stand
If the roof is leaking
Then here’s the plan
Board by board
Hand by hand

We patch what we love
Storm cannot win
Board by board, hand by hand
We build again

We patch what we love
No shame in the scars
A home is still a home
When it shelters our hearts

Oh-oh, patch it up
Patch it up
Oh-oh, build again
Build again
No shame in the scars
No shame in the scars

Little one handed nails one at a time
Uncle said, “Maybe we should leave it behind”
Auntie brought tea with steam in the cold
Grandma said, “A house ain’t old till love lets go”

The new board didn’t match the paint
The old door leaned like it lost some faith
But every hammer strike told the truth
A scar can still hold up a roof

Sawdust danced on Papa’s sleeve
Mama laughed, said, “Boy, don’t grieve”
“Some things get stronger where they bend”
Then she passed me the nails again

If the storm came through
But the walls still stand
If the roof is leaking
Then here’s the plan
Board by board
Hand by hand

We patch what we love
Storm cannot win
Board by board, hand by hand
We build again

We patch what we love
No shame in the scars
A home is still a home
When it shelters our hearts

Oh-oh, patch it up
Patch it up
Oh-oh, build again
Build again
No shame in the scars
No shame in the scars

Some people leave when the rafters crack
But love comes back with a hammer
Cracked or worn, this house is ours
A mended roof still answers thunder

A bent nail, a mismatched board
Proof we stayed, proof we tried
If scars can hold a family
Let the porch light shine

Who held the ladder steady?
We held it
Who stayed when the rain came heavy?
We stayed
Who loves a scarred old house?
We do
Then lift that board with me
With you

We patch what we love
Storm cannot win
Board by board, hand by hand
We build again

We patch what we love
No shame in the scars
A home is still a home
When it shelters our hearts

We patch what we love
Patch it up
Same house, stronger now
Build again

No shame in the scars
No shame in the scars
A home is still a home
When it shelters our hearts

There it is
Porch light back on
Scarred, standing, still ours till dawn

Same house, stronger now
Every scar a vow
Come inside now
We’re home, we’re home

We patch what we love
Storm cannot win
We patch what we love
And love it even more