Pet-Shaped Hole (Folk Ballad)

[Intro] (fingerpicked guitar, soft cello) [Verse 1] There's a lead still hanging by the door And a little bowl I don't fill anymore I still listen for the jingle on the stairs Still leave a gap for you between the chairs People say it's only an animal But you were the heartbeat of this home [Pre-Chorus] And the quiet is so loud Where your paws used to be [Chorus] There's a pet-shaped hole in my day In the walks and the welcome home, in the way You curled up close when the world felt cold Now there's a pet-shaped hole But it's shaped like love, it's shaped like you And that's why it aches all the way through [Verse 2] I found your fur on my favourite coat And I laughed and I cried with a lump in my throat You never cared if I'd had a bad day You just leaned in close and you'd stay Every muddy footprint, every sleepy sigh I'm grateful for each one, I won't say goodbye [Pre-Chorus] And the quiet is so loud Where your paws used to be [Chorus] There's a pet-shaped hole in my day In the walks and the welcome home, in the way You curled up close when the world felt cold Now there's a pet-shaped hole But it's shaped like love, it's shaped like you And that's why it aches all the way through [Bridge] It's okay to grieve a friend with four small feet It's okay to miss the tail-wag when we'd meet Little by little the sunlight comes through And every warm patch on the floor reminds me of you [Final Chorus] There's a pet-shaped hole in my day But I'm learning to carry it along the way You taught me how to rest, how to play, how to stay And love like that doesn't fade away It's shaped like love, it's shaped like you And I'm thankful for every day we knew [Outro] (harmonica and guitar fade) Good friend, good friend Sleep easy now