A Lizard Named Jeff

[Verse 1]
Jeff at the fence line, scale that bark
Tail in the shade when the day gets hard
Middle-aged lizard with a paint-stained grin
Got a little mud on his elbows again

Susan by the porch with a slice of peach
Says, "Jeff, come down, you ain't twenty-six"
He laughs like, "Babe, I still got that nerve"
Then he runs up high where the wind can swerve

Jeff Junior yelling, "Dad, that's nuts!"
Sarah got glitter in a paper cup
Marcus builds a fort from an old lawn chair
Three little co-pilots with a wild-eyed stare

[Pre-Chorus]
One hand up, one hand free
He likes the heights where the branches breathe
Old heart beating like a drum in heat
Yeah, Jeff don't quit, he just takes the leap

[Chorus]
Jeff in the trees, Jeff in the trees
Branch by branch, he’s doing his thing
Jeff in the trees, Jeff in the trees
Home on the hill with his crazy dreams
Susan says, "Jeff"
Kids go, "Jeff!"
Jeff in the trees, Jeff in the trees

[Verse 2]
Sunday afternoon, he paints on stone
Little green dragon with a gold crown blown
Leaves in the frame and a crooked blue sky
He signs it with a claw and a wink in his eye

Then a storm rolls in with a thunder snap
Jeff says, "That old oak needs a rescue map"
He climbs for a kite stuck up in the top
While Susan on the ground like, "Please just stop"

Jeff Junior filming with a bread box lens
Sarah cheering loud from the garden fence
Marcus throws a rope like a championship
Jeff grabs that kite and does a victory flip

[Pre-Chorus]
One hand up, one hand free
He likes the heights where the branches breathe
Susan shakes her head, but she smiles at me
'Cause that fool got joy in his DNA

[Chorus]
Jeff in the trees, Jeff in the trees
Branch by branch, he’s doing his thing
Jeff in the trees, Jeff in the trees
Home on the hill with his crazy dreams
Susan says, "Jeff"
Kids go, "Jeff!"
Jeff in the trees, Jeff in the trees

[Bridge]
Late-night on the rug, family round
Mud on the paws, paint on the ground
Susan got the tea, kids got the jokes
Jeff tells the tale of the hawk he poked

He says, "I been scared, but I climbed up anyway"
Susan says, "That’s why you still got family today"
Then they all laugh till the windows shake
Four little echoes and a big old brave

[Chorus]
Jeff in the trees, Jeff in the trees
Branch by branch, he’s doing his thing
Jeff in the trees, Jeff in the trees
Home on the hill with his crazy dreams
Susan says, "Jeff"
Kids go, "Jeff!"
Jeff in the trees, Jeff in the trees