The Seat Where My Father Sat

Lyrics

The turnstiles stand in silence, rust upon the bar
The concrete steps run upward like a staircase to a star
Row thirty-one, seat fourteen, the paint is wearing thin
I sit where my father sat and let the quiet in

He brought me here at seven in a coat that was too wide
Held my hand through every roar and lifted me inside
Now the pitch is mown and empty and the lights are fast asleep
And the whole great bowl is holding every promise he could keep

Sing it to the empty stand
Where the echoes understand
Every cheer that ever flew
Still is here and still is you
I sit where my father sat
And the silence answers that
Nothing gone is truly gone
When the heart still sings along

A scarf is left behind on the rail, faded red and blue
A programme from some Saturday that no one thought to throw
I fold it in my pocket like a letter from the past
And I listen for the thunder that I know will always last

Sing it to the empty stand
Where the echoes understand
Every cheer that ever flew
Still is here and still is you
I sit where my father sat
And the silence answers that
Nothing gone is truly gone
When the heart still sings along

One more breath of cut grass in the air
One more look at the place he loved
Then I rise and I carry it out of there
Down the steps with the horns above

Sing it to the empty stand
Where the echoes understand
Every cheer that ever flew
Still is here and still is you
I sit where my father sat
And the silence answers that
Nothing gone is truly gone
When the heart still sings along

Row thirty-one, seat fourteen
Still warm, still mine, still his