(Verse 1) I was fifteen months behind you in a hand-me-down dress Tracing your footsteps, trying to be you at best You were the loud one—Gretchy—the “no” in the room I was the quiet, just watching you move We fought over nothing, like who dried the glass Who took my sweater, who ate breakfast too fast But I memorized everything, the sound of your laugh Like if I could keep it, it wouldn’t pass (Pre-Chorus) And when it got heavy, when I couldn’t speak I’d reach out my hand without looking to see And you’d find it—every time (Chorus) You were my first protector, you knew when to stay When the dark got too close, you stood in its way We shared a room and we shared the scars Counting the distance between us and stars Now there’s a space where you used to be But I hear your voice like you’re right next to me You gave them your life, you gave me your hand My sister, my shelter, the heart of the land (Verse 2) You slammed doors harder than anyone could Said things out loud I never would But when it mattered, when the air went thin You were the line no one got in I didn’t know then what you carried for me How you stood where I couldn’t be I was the quiet, you were the fight You kept the world from taking a bite (Pre-Chorus) And when I got scared, too small to explain I’d whisper that word we made up for the pain “Pancakes”—and you’d squeeze my hand Like, I know. I understand. (Chorus) You were my first protector, you knew when to stay When the dark got too close, you stood in its way We shared a room and we shared the scars Counting the distance between us and stars Now there’s a space where you used to be But I hear your voice like you’re right next to me You gave them your life, you gave me your light My sister, my anchor, my rest in the night (Bridge) Now there are two little girls in the yard One has your name, one carries my heart And I see you there in the way that they run In the way they reach out when the day is undone I’ll teach them that word, I’ll teach them your way How love doesn’t leave, even when it can’t stay (Final Chorus) You were my first protector, you were my first home The one who made sure I was never alone We shared a beginning, we carried it through Now I’m still here, still following you And when it gets heavy, when I can’t speak I still feel your hand reaching back for me You gave them your life, you gave me your truth My sister, forever the shape of my youth (Outro) If I say “pancakes,” I know you’ll hear Somewhere beyond what I can see from here Fifteen months behind you, I always will be Still reaching your hand— Gretchy, still reaching for me