Well I'm walking with my father's ghost
and he's talking to me
he says "I'm sorry it's so hard to be free"

He says "I knew you when you were so young
and you will never know me
except for pictures that you might find from
when you were three or four or five"

down at the waterline
I'm at the waterline tonight
at the waterline
at the waterline tonight

now I'm talking with my sister
who says she knows you well
she says she hears you in her hallway at night
and sometimes she can smell you

but me I have to make you up
from the smallest clues i can find
me I have to dig you up
from the corners of my mind

We're at the waterline
at the waterline tonight
we're at the waterline
at the waterline tonight

i built this boat for you my friend
and you're not here to get in
I'm wondering--should I let it go
and see if i can swim

yeah I'm standing with this boat i built
with water at my knees
i thought that i might find you here
but it looks like it's just me

here at the waterline
at the waterline tonight
at the waterline
the waterline tonight

I'm walking with my father's ghost
he's talking to me
he says "I'm sorry"