Wayne Orr

(Verse 1)
He pulled up in that old red truck, sunset on his brow,
Found his boots in a cardboard box, “Don’t come in now.”
She stood behind a deadbolt’s glare, curtains drawn tight,
Twenty-four years whispered by… now just a porch light.

(Chorus)
Twenty-four keys gone, no reason why,
A heart locked up tighter than a July-dry sky.
She threw out his memories but kept his goodbye,
Twenty-four years… now just a lonesome drive by.

(Verse 2)
The swing where they laughed at the rain’s slow beat,
Now holds a note signed “Don’t you dare speak.”
Her eyes were cold as a Wichita wind,
Leavin’ him guessin’ where love’s end began.

(Chorus)
Twenty-four keys gone, no trail to track,
Just a ring in his pocket and a past he can’t pack.
She’s a shadow in the window, he’s a ghost in the road,
Twenty-four years… now an empty bed’s code.

(Bridge)
Did he miss the signs in the coffee-cup dawn?
Or forget the tune to her heart’s quiet song?
The silence screams louder than a slammed screen door—
Now he’s pourin’ his truth into a whiskey-roar.

(Outro)
The highway don’t answer, the stars just pretend,
Twenty-four keys gone… and a love with no end.
She walked off the dance floor, left the record on spin,
Twenty-four years… and a keyhole’s grim grin.