[INTRO – SPOKEN] [SFX: Evening crickets, soft fiddle] [BUBBA] Well… We’ve walked a mighty long road, Darlene. [DARLENE] We have. [BUBBA] Some of it was beautiful. [DARLENE] Some of it wasn’t. [BUBBA] But every mile brought us here. [DARLENE] And where’s “here”? [BUBBA] Home. [HARMONICA – slow, soulful opening] [VERSE 1 – BUBBA] I’ve walked through valleys, I’ve slept beneath the rain, I’ve carried old memories Like a pocket full of pain. I’ve known the taste of whiskey, I’ve known the pull of chains, I’ve walked through dark December And waited for the change. But every road I traveled, Every mile I had to roam, Was teaching this old heart What it means to come back home. [VERSE 2 – DARLENE] Home ain’t just a doorway, Home ain’t just four walls, Home is someone waiting When the evening darkness falls. Home is forgiveness, Home is telling the truth, Home is finding something good In the years you’ve traveled through. And home is knowing When the long day’s finally done, You don’t have to keep on running From the person you’ve become. [CHORUS – BOTH] When I get home, I’ll lay my burden down. When I get home, I’ll stop looking around. The road may have been long, The night may have been cold, But grace kept walking with me Till I finally found my home. [YODEL – BUBBA] Yodel-ay-ee… Yodel-ay-oh… [DARLENE] Come on home. [YODEL – BOTH] Yodel-ay-ee… Yodel-ay-ay… [VERSE 3 – BUBBA] I can’t erase the prison, I can’t erase the years, I can’t undo the damage, I can’t take away the tears. But I can thank the Lord For every lesson that remains, And I can use these old scars To remember why I changed. The man I used to be Don’t have to be the man I am, Because mercy gave me room To become a better man. [VERSE 4 – DARLENE] And I’ve watched you walk it, One day at a time, I’ve watched you trade the darkness For a little morning light. I’ve heard that old harmonica Cry and laugh again, And I’ve watched you find your faith And learn to start again. So if another mountain Should rise before our eyes, We’ll climb it side by side Beneath the open sky. [HARMONICA SOLO – BUBBA] [LONG EMOTIONAL OLD-TIME HARMONICA SOLO] [BRIDGE – GOSPEL CALL & RESPONSE] [BUBBA] When I was lost— [DARLENE] He found you. [BUBBA] When I was broken— [DARLENE] He held you. [BUBBA] When I was running— [DARLENE] He waited. [BUBBA] When I was ashamed— [DARLENE] He gave you grace. [BOTH] When I had nothing, He gave me a way. When I had no strength, He carried me. When I couldn’t see tomorrow, He gave me today. [VERSE 5 – BUBBA] So I’ll keep building Till my hands can’t swing, I’ll keep singing Till I can’t sing. I’ll keep loving Every soul I can, I’ll keep walking With the Lord’s hand. And if my journey Ends beneath these Georgia skies, I’ll thank Him for the mornings, I’ll thank Him for the nights. I’ll thank Him for Darlene, I’ll thank Him for this home, And I’ll thank Him That I never had to walk alone. [CHORUS – BOTH] When I get home, I’ll lay my burden down. When I get home, I’ll stop looking around. The road may have been long, The night may have been cold, But grace kept walking with me Till I finally found my home. [VERSE 6 – BOTH] [BUBBA] I’ve got no riches That the world would understand— [DARLENE] But you’ve got love And a faithful hand. [BUBBA] I’ve got no perfect story To tell— [DARLENE] You’ve got a story That you lived well. [BUBBA] I’ve got some scars— [DARLENE] And I’ve got mine too. [BOTH] But we’ve got another morning And another thing to do. [BUILD – FULL STRING BAND] [BUBBA] So bring the banjo! [DARLENE] Bring the fiddle! [BUBBA] Bring that old guitar! [DARLENE] Bring the mandolin! [BUBBA] Bring the harmonica! [BOTH] We’re gonna sing Wherever we are! [UPBEAT OLD-TIME STRING BAND BREAK] [YODEL – BOTH] Yodel-ay-ee… Yodel-ay-oh… We’re going home! Yodel-ay-ee… Yodel-ay-ay… [FINAL CHORUS – FULL] When I get home, I’ll lay my burden down. When I get home, I’ll finally know I’ve found The place where mercy met me, The place where grace was shown, The place where God reminded me I never walked alone. When I get home, I’ll hear that old porch sing. I’ll hear Darlene laughing, I’ll hear the birds in spring. I’ll play my harmonica, And thank the Lord above For every mile He gave me, For every lesson, For every love. [FINAL GOSPEL REPRISE] [BUBBA] I was lost— [DARLENE] But you came home. [BUBBA] I was broken— [DARLENE] But you came home. [BUBBA] I was running— [DARLENE] But you came home. [BOTH] And by the grace of God, You finally came home. [FINAL YODEL – BIG FINISH] [BUBBA] Yodel-ay-ee… Yodel-ay-oh… [DARLENE] Yodel-ay-ee… Yodel-ay-ay… [BOTH] YODEL-AY-EE… YODEL-AY-OH… WE’RE GOING HOME! [HARMONICA – FEATURED FINAL SOLO] [FIDDLE + BANJO + MANDOLIN + GUITAR + HARMONICA] [SFX: Old porch laughter, crickets, distant train] [OUTRO – SPOKEN] [BUBBA] Well… that’s the road. [DARLENE] That’s the story. [BUBBA] And the funny thing is… [DARLENE] What’s that?
