Unfurnished Praise

[Verse 1]
The final coat of lacquer on the Ohio walnut shines,
Just like you said it would, back in early June.
There’s a low hum from the lathe down on Water Street,
A ghost of all the work that I put into this room.
My hands are steady now, the trembling is gone.

[Chorus]
And they're calling it a masterpiece, a perfect, polished thing,
But all I hear's an echo in this unfurnished praise I sing.
The beat goes on, the floor is full, but the doorway's facing north,
And I'm dancing by myself for all this hollow triumph's worth.

[Verse 2]
My knuckles are still raw from fitting the last joint,
I can feel the winter creeping through the window seams.
“Don’t you dare give up,” you drew on the dusty sill,
Now it’s just a finished chapter in some other person’s dreams.

[Chorus]
And they're calling it a masterpiece, a perfect, polished thing,
But all I hear's an echo in this unfurnished praise I sing.
The beat goes on, the floor is full, but the doorway's facing north,
And I'm dancing by myself for all this hollow triumph's worth.

[Bridge]
I built it wall to wall, a shelter from the doubt,
But I never planned the framework for getting myself out.

[Outro]
A masterpiece...
Just a thing.