[Verse 1]
We only went to bring one puppy home
Just his brother, that was all
But you stood there raisin’ all that tiny hell
Like you already owned us all

Gray and white with stubborn eyes
Too much spirit for your size
And somehow before that day was through
You picked us… more than we picked you

[Verse 2]
You been livin’ off your mama’s plate
Like every supper’s your birthright
Barkin’ at the thunder, bossin’ everybody ’round
Howlin’ at the moon at night

And Lord that little voice you make
When you try so hard to say
“Ralph”…

But I swear sometimes it sounds like “Momma” anyway

[Chorus]
Oh Chappy, my little shadow
My old heartbeat with tiny paws
You followed me through every hard year
Loved me through every loss

Now the house is full of broken
And I ain’t ready for the dark
’Cause fifteen years ain’t long enough
For a dog that owns your heart

[Verse 3]
Now I count your breaths while you’re sleeping
And I pretend I don’t
See the tired behind your eyes
Or hear the places your heart won’t go

Still you wag that tail for me
Still you crawl up close somehow
Like you’re tryin’ to make this easier
For the rest of us right now

[Bridge]
And I don’t know how to say goodbye
To the best friend I ever knew
How do you let go of somethin’
That spent a lifetime loving you?

Maybe love like this don’t leave
Maybe it just changes rooms
Maybe every quiet corner of this house
Will still be filled with you

[Final Chorus]
Oh Chappy, sweet little old man
Full of sass till the very end
If love could keep a body breathing
You’d outlive all of us then

So when you finally close your tired eyes
You don’t have to be afraid
You were wanted… you were cherished
Every single day

And somewhere past this hurtin’
Past
the part where hearts get torn
I’ll hear your little howl again
Callin’ for Momma once more