Attic Boogie

Climbed up the ladder, dust in the air Old wooden boxes stacked everywhere Sun through the window, time standing still Smelled like memories I never could kill Cracked open one with a rusted latch Out rolled a soldier, missing his patch A marble, a train, a chipped little drum Things I thought lost, now here they come I swear I looked for you night and day Tore up my room, you slipped away Mama just laughed, said “Boy, you’ll see…” “There’s things at night you don’t wanna meet” Ohhh—Attic boogie, tell me what you hide Where’d you take my toys in the dead of night? One day they’re mine, next day they’re gone Now they’re all here like nothing went wrong Was it just time… or something else at play? That old toy monster Mama warned me ‘bout that day? Found my cowboy with the broken hat The one I cried for, remember that? Swore it vanished without a trace Now he’s just staring up in my face There’s my puzzle with one piece gone Guess he didn’t need that one to move along Tin wind-up car with a crooked wheel Still makes that sound I remember so real I hear the floorboards creak up here Like something’s laughing in my ear Mama’s voice comes drifting through— “Told you that monster was watching you…” Ohhh—Attic boogie, shadows in the light Did he sneak around when I slept at night? Under the bed, behind the door Was he the one creeping ‘cross the floor? Now I’m grown, but I still can’t say… If that toy monster ever went away… You ever wake up… And something’s just… missing? No sound… no trace… Just gone… Maybe he’s still out there… Just waiting for a messy room… Packed it all in a cardboard crate But I stopped myself just a little too late Left one toy sitting by the stairs… Didn’t bring myself to take him downstairs Turned off the light, pulled the hatch down tight But I swear I heard something move that night… Ohhh—Attic boogie, I know your game You take what’s lost, but you don’t take blame Little boy dreams tucked away Till you bring ‘em back one dusty day So if something’s gone when you wake at dawn… Don’t look too hard… just move along… “He’s still there…” “He’s still there…”