[Intro — River Water, Willow Leaves, Clean Guitar Harmonics]

[Verse 1]
You kicked your sandals from the pier,
Said, “Bet you won't jump after me.”
The river flashed. You counted three;
I hit before your count was clear.
Your denim jacket held my keys,
Your laughter shook the willow leaves.
The daylight caught across your grin;
I wanted that whole day again.

[Pre-Chorus]
I had the words behind my teeth,
Three simple words I couldn't breathe.
When the evening bus rolled in,
I wrote the sentence on the train.

[Chorus]
Blue ink, summer skin,
Every line brings July back.
Your name leaned through the margin
Like a tune beneath my hand.
Brave enough to write “I love you,”
Not enough to let you in.

[Verse 2]
We shared warm cola from the can;
Thunder rolled beyond the mill;
You drew a heart across my hand.
We raced each other up the hill.
Beneath the awning by the store,
You stood so klohs I smelled the rain.
One drop ran down your chin once more;
The bus pulled up. I climbed away.

[Pre-Chorus]
The doors sighed wide. The driver swore.
You waved until I saw no more.
At home I filled one narrow sheet
Then hid it where I used to sleep.

[Chorus]
Blue ink, summer skin,
Every line brings July back.
Your name leaned through the margin
Like a tune beneath my hand.
Brave enough to write “I love you,”
Not enough to let you in.

[Instrumental Break — Rain on Snare, Guitar Answering the Vocal]

[Bridge]
I wrote, “I think this might be love,”
Crossed out “think,” then wrote above:
“The whole street quiets when you're near.”
I kept the sentence thirty years.

[Final Chorus]
Blue ink, summer skin,
The old page brings that daylight back.
You were barefoot by the river;
I was shaking with a pen.
Brave enough to love you then,
Not enough to let you in.

[Outro — River Ambience Returning]
The paper smells of rain and wood,
The metal railing, river mud.
Before the distance settled in:
Blue ink, summer skin.