Track 7 of the album Windfall Plums and Weekend Light · 2025
Thank You, Teacher, for the Red Pen
“A thank-you for every sea of red ink that taught me to write. Better late than never.”
xinyao · thank-you song · cosy folk · 2:37
Lyrics
You returned my essay with a sea of red Little loops and arrows everywhere At the bottom, in your tidy hand You wrote, there is a voice in here I was seventeen and sure I had nothing To say that anyone would hear You said, try one more time, with feeling And I tried, and the page went clear Thank you, teacher, for the red pen Thank you for the extra mile Thank you for the cup of tea you passed me And the patience in your smile La la la, I wrote it down And I would not be here without Thank you, teacher, for the red pen Thank you, thank you, thank you now Now I have a stack of my own to mark Sunday evening at the kitchen light I circle the good bits twice in green And I write, there is a voice in here Someone gave you a little push Someone had faith before you did And so the kindness travels on From hand to hand to every kid Thank you, teacher, for the red pen Thank you for the extra mile Thank you for the cup of tea you passed me And the patience in your smile La la la, I wrote it down And I would not be here without Thank you, teacher, for the red pen Thank you, thank you, thank you now Thank you, thank you There is a voice in here