Leave the Porch Light On

[Verse 1]
He was seventeen with a duffel bag
And a half-full tank in an old Pontiac
Daddy stood quiet by the screen door frame
Mama fought tears when she called his name

He said, “I gotta find out who I am
I can’t spend forever on this piece of land”
Daddy nodded once, said, “Son, I know
But there’s one thing you oughta know before you go”

[Pre-Chorus]
When the road gets dark
And the miles get long
When you’re tired of trying
To prove everybody wrong

[Chorus]
We’ll leave the porch light on
Through the midnight, through the storm
If you lose your way out there
You’ll know somebody still cares
You don’t have to call ahead
You don’t have to explain where you’ve been
No matter how far you’ve gone
We’ll leave the porch light on

[Verse 2]
A few years passed and the calls got thin
Pride has a way of keeping trouble in
He chased some dreams that turned to dust
Trusted people he never should’ve trusted

Then one cold night with nowhere to stay
He pulled off the highway twenty miles away
Saw that little farmhouse up on the hill
And through the rain that old light was burning still

[Pre-Chorus]
He sat there shaking
With his hands on the wheel
Wondering if mercy
Could still be real

[Chorus]
We’ll leave the porch light on
Through the midnight, through the storm
If you lose your way out there
You’ll know somebody still cares
You don’t have to call ahead
You don’t have to explain where you’ve been
No matter how far you’ve gone
We’ll leave the porch light on

[Instrumental Break / Guitar Solo]

[Verse 3]
Daddy was older when he opened that door
But he pulled that boy in just like before
Mama cried and held him tight
Nobody asked where he’d been that night

And years down the road when his own boy left
He finally understood what his father meant
Some love doesn’t count the wrongs you’ve done
It just keeps a light burning till you come home

[Bridge]
And somewhere beyond every road we roam
There’s a Father still calling His children home
No distance too great, no night too long
No heart too lost, no soul too far gone

The door’s still open
Grace is still strong
And heaven keeps saying
“Come on home”

[Final Chorus]
He’ll leave the porch light on
Through the midnight, through the storm
If you lose your way out there
You’ll find a Father waiting there
You don’t have to clean yourself up
You don’t have to earn His love
No matter how far you’ve gone
He’ll leave the porch light on

[Gang Vocals]
Leave the porch light on!
Leave the porch light on!
For every wandering heart
Trying to make it home

[Final Chorus – Bigger]
He’ll leave the porch light on
Through the midnight, through the storm
There’s a light that never dies
Burning through the darkest night
No matter what road you’re on
No matter what you’ve done
There’s still a place where you belong
He’ll leave the porch light on

[Outro – Half Time / Gang Vocals]
Come on home
Come on home
The light is still on

Come on home
Come on home
The light is still on

Leave the porch light on.