Sound of an Empty Swing

On a path where the footsteps are rare and few

Underneath the sky of a fading blue

I found a relic of a time gone by

Hanging from a branch reaching for the sky

Tattered ropes and a board of weathered gray

Worn by the rain and the heat of the day

It looks so lonely, it looks so small

But it’s the greatest treasure of them all

Oh, listen to the sound of an empty swing

It’s more than a rusty, creaking thing

It’s heavy with the joy of the hands that made

And the echoes of laughter that never fade

You can't count the happiness with your eyes

It’s hidden in the grain where the memory lies

A hollow seat that is full of the past

A beautiful secret that’s built to last

I can hear the rhythm in the squeak and the sway

The ghost of a child from a yesterday

The pride of the father who tied the knot

The peace of a mother in this quiet spot

Value isn't found in the shine or the new

But in the spirit that’s shining through

Every scratch and every crack in the wood

Tells a story of a life that was good

Oh, listen to the sound of an empty swing

It’s more than a rusty, creaking thing

It’s heavy with the joy of the hands that made

And the echoes of laughter that never fade

You can't count the happiness with your eyes

It’s hidden in the grain where the memory lies

A hollow seat that is full of the past

A beautiful secret that’s built to last

The wind is the rider, the breeze is the guest

Giving the old wood a rhythmic rest

Don't judge by the cover, don't look at the rust

There’s a kingdom of gold underneath the dust

Visible things might wither and die

But the invisible truth will never say goodbye

Still swaying

Still full of love

An empty swing, a heart so full