Second Chair Violinist.

I played violin all growing up. 
My mother said as soon as I could breath
My fingers longed for the strings 

I could never sing,
I wasn’t never good at that. 
But my fingers longed for the
Sweet song that they could 
Hold, that they could feel when
I played. 

I say I wasn’t never good at singing
But the truth is, I wasn’t ever special
At violin neither

I only ever played second chair
All growing up that’s what I got
But I was the most reliable second 
Chair you ever did see
I never missed a practice 

I was always five minutes early 
If you are on time, 
My father used to say, 
You are five minutes late

But maybe that was it. 
Maybe I was just 
Too early

It was a Tuesday,
I remember it as a Sunday,
But that’s just because it’s my
Favorite day of the week

They finally asked me
To move up to first chair
I told them I wanted to 
But I told them I was moving
I said I’d practice everyday
I said I’d be even better when 
I got to come back

“We’ll see” 
That’s all they ever did tell me
That’s as close as I got
I spent the year practicing
I thought of nothing but playing 

Nothing but sitting in that first chair
How proud my parents could finally be
I could sit with my chin up
Knowing I sat in the first chair

But on the drive cross country
My violin broke 
Her strings had been snapped 
And her neck split
Someone had gone and punched
A hole in her body 

My family never came from money
My violin was a gift
One part birthday 
And two parts Christmas
I knew I wasn’t getting one soon 

My fingers would grow slow and clumsy
Before I could pick up another
I realized the first chair would always be
Just out of reach 

I’m a second chair violinist
I wasn’t always no good 
I used to have a chance
But I ain’t got none now I’m a second chair violinist 
And that’s where I’ll stay