Track 5 of the EP Thresholds · 2024
First Night Home, Dad's Hands Remember
by Kane Rivers
“A new kind of quiet in the apartment. I wrote it whispering.”
hip hop · hushed hip hop · tender trap · 3:03
Lyrics
First night home, the apartment's got a new kind of quiet Bassinet by the bed, I'm still thinking I might buy it All those rhymes in my notebook can't prepare me for this Eight pounds of everything, I'm scared I might miss Hold you like a loaf of bread, careful of the crust Remember how my father held me, and I trust That somewhere in my hands is a thing he left behind Gentle in the knuckles, steady in the spine Dad's hands remember, even when he's gone They teach me how to hold you till the dawn Dad's hands remember, rocking slow Teaching me the things I never got to know Dad's hands remember, now they're mine Holding you in the late-night lamplight shine He worked double shifts, I barely saw his face But on Sundays he would rock me in that old creaky space Hummed a song with no words, just a rumble in his chest I can feel it in my own now, and I'm doing my best You grab my thumb tight, little fist, big grip I whisper that I'm sorry for every future slip But I'll show up, I'll be present, I'll be there on time Whatever I don't know, I'll learn it line by line Dad's hands remember, even when he's gone They teach me how to hold you till the dawn Dad's hands remember, rocking slow Teaching me the things I never got to know Dad's hands remember, now they're mine Holding you in the late-night lamplight shine If he could see us now, he'd say it's alright Slow down, son, you're doing it right Three a.m. rumble in my chest still low That's his song, and now you know Window's got the city, orange and quiet Nothing in my life has ever felt this right I'll tell you about him when you're old enough to hear How a tired man with big hands taught me not to fear You're asleep now, finally, mouth a little open Every worry that I had has been slowly broken I set down my pen, hold you till the morning This is the best verse I've written without warning Dad's hands remember, even when he's gone They teach me how to hold you till the dawn Dad's hands remember, rocking slow Teaching me the things I never got to know Dad's hands remember, now they're mine Holding you in the late-night lamplight shine Rock slow, rock slow Dad's hands remember