This next one's about family… the ones you're born into… and the ones you find along the way…
Back home we've got a tradition — thirty years now, same table, same faces… a few new ones… and a couple of chairs that sit empty these days…
But that's the thing about family — you just keep on findin' it…
I've been comin' to this beach longer than I care to admit… and I found some right here…
Fellas like Elvis… and Iceblock… my Jamaican family…
You see 'em down the sand, give 'em a shout for me — tell 'em Jimmy sent you…
And every year, at the door — back home, and right here on this beach — we say the same three words…
You know 'em… Help me out…
By noon the driveway's fillin' up,
same as every year before.
Nobody asks if we're still doin' this—
they just knock and come on through the door.
Somebody's laughin' from the backyard
'fore the coffee's even poured.
Somebody yells, "Grab yourself a beer!"
before both feet hit the floor.
The same old stories start halfway told,
like nobody missed a day.
Somebody grins, throws both arms wide...
"Looks like we made another one."
"See you next year!"
Somebody laughs,
somebody waves,
somebody backs on down the drive.
Fold the chairs,
load the coolers,
one more for the road tonight.
Nobody countin',
nobody thinkin'
life could ever change from here...
just a yard full of friends and family
sayin',
"See you next year!"
Now a couple hours runs till dark,
that little crowd's a full-grown tribe.
The table keeps on gettin' longer,
somehow always one more side.
The kids we used to wear out chasin'
now chase little feet themselves.
Somebody's brand-new girlfriend's laughin'
like she's always been one of us.
Somebody's holdin' somebody's baby,
somebody's tellin' that same old joke.
Nobody notices the sunset...
'til somebody says,
"Look at that."
"See you next year!"
Somebody laughs,
somebody waves,
somebody backs on down the drive.
Fold the chairs,
load the coolers,
one more for the road tonight.
Nobody countin',
nobody thinkin'
life could ever change from here...
just a yard full of friends and family
sayin',
"See you next year!"
All these late Novembers—
somebody had to head on home,
somebody stayed a little longer,
somebody's little girl grew up,
somebody got a little stronger.
Somebody met the love of their life,
somebody lost one hell of a fight.
We thought it was just Thanksgiving...
turns out we didn't know the half of it.
"See you next year!"
Somebody laughs,
somebody waves,
somebody backs on down the drive.
Fold the chairs,
load the coolers,
one more for the road tonight.
Nobody countin',
nobody thinkin'
life could ever change from here...
just a yard full of friends and family
sayin',
"See you next year..."
Truck door...
engine starts...
a hand out the window—
"See you next year!"