Hugz 'N Pawz

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Truck at the gate, brown tape and blue stamps,
Mama signs her name by the porch light lamp.
We cut the cord, the cardboard sighs,
Kiko puts his nose where your T-shirt lies.
Chocolate, canned goods, a postcard line,
But he curls on your clothes like, This is mine.

[Pre-Chorus]
Calendar squares we mark in pen,
Scissors on tape like the sea again.

[Chorus]
Balikbayan box, you cross the sea for us,
You smell like goodbyes turning into trust.
We make a little Christmas out of folding cloth,
Kiko guards the shirts like they’re made of hope.
Balikbayan box, you keep the room alive,
Till footsteps find our door one night.

[Verse 2]
Monsoon months and parade day drums,
He waits by the window when the mailman comes.
He drags your sleeve to his pillow place,
Sleeps on your name like a saving grace.
We read your note by the kitchen sink,
He licks the ink as if you’re in the ink.

[Pre-Chorus]
Every gate that clicks at dusk,
He lifts his head and listens up.

[Chorus]
Balikbayan box, you cross the sea for us,
You smell like goodbyes turning into trust.
We make a little Christmas out of folding cloth,
Kiko guards the shirts like they’re made of hope.
Balikbayan box, you keep the room alive,
Till footsteps find our door one night.

[Bridge]
Christmas Eve knocks, we look for string,
But it’s keys and laughter and a suitcase ring.
Porch light catches a face we know,
Kiko hits the tiles like a rapid drumroll.
Box by the tree stays closed for now,
The hug is the gift and we don’t ask how.

[Chorus]
Balikbayan box, stay sleeping by the tree,
Tonight the ocean walked you home to me.
No tape to cut, no paper note,
Just arms and a dog and a lump in your throat.
Balikbayan box, you did your job just right--
He found his pillow and you found the night.

[Outro]
Kiko on your chest.
Home in one breath.