[Verse 1]
He was born where the volcanoes meet the sea,
São Miguel in his blood, in his bones, in his dreams,
At three years old he crossed the Atlantic wide,
But the island never left him, it just moved inside,
Two worlds in his heart, two shores in his name,
And the boy who left Portugal was never the same

[PreChorus]
Some meetings are meant before either knows why,
A city, a pact, and a mayor passing by

[Chorus]
José, this was always the road leading home,
Through oceans and borders you never walked alone,
From Lagoa to Sainte-Thérèse, fate knew the way,
And twenty-five years with Sylvie, here we still stay

[Verse 2]
She came as a mayor, a bridge and a hand,
Carrying Sainte-Thérèse back to his land,
Villa Franca do Campo just one city away,
From where two friendships became one to stay,
She brought him back to the roots of his soul,
And something between them was suddenly whole

[PreChorus]
No differences, no distance, no borders between,
Just the simplest and truest love either had seen

[Chorus]
José, this was always the road leading home,
Through oceans and borders you never walked alone,
From Lagoa to Sainte-Thérèse, fate knew the way,
And twenty-five years with Sylvie, here we still stay

[Verse 3]
He walked into a family and made it his own,
Three children who never had to feel alone,
Four grandsons who know him as theirs through and through,
And a granddaughter coming in August's debut,
The harmony held, and the love only grew,
That is the kind of man that the whole family knew

[PreChorus]
It was never complicated, it was always just right,
Two people, one life, one quietly beautiful light

[Chorus]
José, this was always the road leading home,
Through oceans and borders you never walked alone,
From Lagoa to Sainte-Thérèse, fate knew the way,
And twenty-five years with Sylvie, here we still stay

[Bridge]
A year into retirement and time finally slows,
The Atlantic beside them, the soft island breeze blows,
No rushing, no proving, just mornings to share,
Two people who built something rare beyond rare

[Outro]
So rest in this chapter, let the tide carry on,
José, you were always exactly where you belong