Track 6 of the album Thank You, Night Bus · 2024
Mr. Okonkwo, Chalk on His Sleeve
by Moth Static
“A teacher who noticed the quiet kid in the back row. I wrote this for a real person, and he knows who he is.”
dream pop · dream pop · indie pop · 3:46
Lyrics
Back row, quiet, with my head held down The only one who never raised a hand He walked right up and said, I see you now And I began to think I just might stand He said, you've got a voice Don't leave it in your coat Thank you, teacher, for the open door You saw a light I couldn't see before Chalk on your sleeve and a belief in me Now I'm somebody I was meant to be Thank you, teacher, for the open door He stayed behind when everybody left He read my crooked pages, line by line He said the best of me was still unsaid And ink by ink, I started to be mine He said, you've got a voice Don't leave it in your coat Thank you, teacher, for the open door You saw a light I couldn't see before Chalk on your sleeve and a belief in me Now I'm somebody I was meant to be Thank you, teacher, for the open door Years have gone, the classroom's far away But I still hear you in the things I say One kind word can turn a life around Sing it loud, sing it loud Thank you, teacher, for the open door You saw a light I couldn't see before Chalk on your sleeve and a belief in me Now I'm somebody I was meant to be Thank you, teacher, for the open door Chalk on your sleeve Thank you, teacher