Track 05 · The Album
The Good One
"They don't know the half of him. He's the good one. And he's mine."
Lyrics
Verse 1
He's quiet at the table when there's folks he don't know
Holdin' back his words like they cost too much to spend
But you put him on a long drive with the windows down at night
And the boy could talk forever, like he's never gonna end
Refrain
They all say it when they meet him
"Oh yeah, he's the good one"
And I know exactly what they mean
But they don't know the half of him
He's the good one
And he's mine
Verse 2
He'll volunteer to mop a floor before you finish askin'
He'll bring me wildflowers in a water bottle, no big deal
He'll drive an hour out of his way for someone stuck on the highway
The kindest thing about him is he doesn't even know he's kind
Refrain
They all say it when they meet him
"Oh yeah, he's the good one"
And I know exactly what they mean
But they don't know the half of him
He's the good one
And he's mine
Verse 3
He's never raised his voice at me, not once in all these years
When I'm spinnin' out, he's the steady ground under my feet
He's the patience to my panic, the still to my storm
And when I can't see straight, he's the one who sees me
Final Refrain
They all say it when they meet him
"He's the good one"
And I know exactly what they mean
But they don't know the half of him
He's the good one
And he's mine
He's mine
He's mine
Outro
He's quiet at the table
But he talks all night with me
And that's how I know
That's how I know he's the good one
He's the good one
He's mine
The Story Behind the Song
The half they don't see.
Anyone who knows the family will tell you the same thing about Kayle. "He's the good one." He is quiet around people he doesn't know, which can fool a first time observer into thinking he is reserved. He is not reserved. He is just careful with his words. When he does speak, it is usually to ask if he can help, or to make a joke at his own expense, or to tell whoever he loves how much he loves them.
Mallory has been on the receiving end of all of it. The wildflowers in a water bottle. The hour long drives out of his way for someone broken down. The patience he holds her in when something has knocked the wind out of her. The way he sits with her and waits for her to be ready. He has never raised his voice at her. He is, by her admission, her favorite person, and she has long since stopped trying to pretend otherwise.
"The Good One" is her tender portrait of him. The world sees the surface. She sees the rest. He's the good one, and he's hers.