[Intro — Spoken over gentle cello] When I'm melancholy, I remember what Thomas Paine wrote, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Marnie, these are the times that try MY soul. Some days, it feels like I’ve got a tiger by the tail. Marnie and Robin are always my solace and my strength. And something Robin taught me keeps coming back… It’s called tradition. [Verse 1] The autumn light falls on your kitchen chair, I turn with a thought, almost finding you there Robin. You loved every season, each reason to cheer, And the meals that brought all the people we love near. Now I open the cupboard and reach for a pan, Remembering your touch as I do what I can. [Verse 2] At Halloween Robin, you loved all the fun, The knock at the door when the daylight was done. Something was cooking, the house smelled so good, You made it a holiday as only you could. With leaves on the doorstep and laughter outside, You gave every season a warm place inside. [Chorus] You are my solace and my strength, The light I turn toward when the shadows lengthen. When my sorrow runs wild and my courage fails, And I’m holding a tiger by the tail, I take what you taught me and make something good, Share it with someone the way that you would. Robin, your love has a place at the table, And I’ll keep it there for as long as I’m able. [Verse 3] Thanksgiving meant more than the food we prepared, It lived in the welcome, the stories we shared. Those last few years, I took over the making, The stirring, the timing, the roasting and baking. But you brought the pleasure of having folks near, And made us remember why we gathered each year. [Instrumental Interlude — Warm cello, gentle acoustic guitar] [Verse 4] At Christmas, I think of the meals, Oven roasted Turkey, Wilted Lettuce Salad, Dried Corn, The quiet we shared at the end of those nights. “It’s a long time till New Year’s,” I say with a sigh, With so many memories still passing by. Then I hear the good sense in what Marnie says: “Share Mom’s love of the season in your own way.” [Bridge — Gentle, conversational] Making Becca dinner just the other night, I found that an evening could still turn out right. A meal and some talking, a place she could feel safe— Your love was still working in that ordinary way. Friends, neighbors, and family, a knock at the door, A reason to set out another plate once more. [Final Chorus — Warmer, quietly hopeful] You and Marnie are my solace and my strength, The light I turn toward when the shadows lengthen. When sorrow runs wild and my courage fails, And I’m holding a tiger by the tail, I take what you taught me and make something good, Share it with someone the way that you would. Robin, your love always has a place at the table, And I’ll keep it there for as long as I’m able. [Outro — Spoken-sung over piano and cello] It’s called tradition… The making, the giving, the welcoming in. I can miss you and still put a meal on the stove, Still open our door, still share your love. And when someone leaves feeling cared for and fed, I remember the beautiful life that we led. [Tag — Almost whispered] Robin is gone from here, but not gone from me, She’s in my everywhere. Marnie, you are my solace and my strength now… Robin, there’s love left to share.
0/500