LEAVE THE PORCH LIGHT ON Bubba Patrick featuring Darlene [Intro — acoustic guitar and warm piano] [Verse 1 — Bubba, male lead] That screen door’s got a little trouble closing, You lift it up and pull it till it catches. There’s a coffee ring beside an open Bible, And a chair with somebody’s old coat hanging. You called from down the road beside the station, Said, “I don’t know if I ought to come.” I said, “You’ll see a light above the railing. Turn in here. I’ll put some coffee on.” [Chorus — Bubba lead; Darlene, female harmony] I’ll leave the porch light on, There’s still a place where you’re welcome. You don’t need a speech prepared, You can start with, “How you been?” We ain’t got to settle every question, We can talk until the coffee’s gone. If you’re wondering whether you can come here, I’ll leave the porch light on. [Verse 2 — Bubba] You stood there with your keys still in your fingers, Looking at the boards beneath your feet. Said, “I ought to have some good news for you.” I said, “Come on now, won’t you have a seat?” Trigger sniffed the bottom of your blue jeans, Then settled down beside your dusty shoes. You scratched his ears and finally quit apologizing, And told me what you’d been going through. [Chorus — Bubba lead; Darlene, female harmony] I’ll leave the porch light on, There’s still a place where you’re welcome. You don’t need a speech prepared, You can start with, “How you been?” We ain’t got to settle every question, We can talk until the coffee’s gone. If you’re wondering whether you can come here, I’ll leave the porch light on. [Instrumental — tender harmonica, acoustic guitar and piano] [Verse 3 — Bubba] I’ve been the one who almost didn’t knock, Who drove around rehearsing what to say. Thought I had to get myself together Before I let somebody see my face. But a friend once opened up his kitchen, Moved a stack of papers off a chair. I remember very little of that evening, Except how good it felt to just be there. [Bridge — Darlene, female solo] You can come with something worth celebrating, You can come when nothing’s going right. [Bridge — Bubba, male lead] And if you’d rather sit and hear the crickets, We can let ’em do the talking tonight. [Final Chorus — Bubba lead; Darlene, full female harmony] I’ll leave the porch light on, There’s still a place where you’re welcome. You don’t need a speech prepared, You can start with, “How you been?” We ain’t got to settle every question, We can talk until the coffee’s gone. If you’re wondering whether you can come here, I’ll leave the porch light on. [Outro — Bubba, softly sung] When you reach that old screen door, Lift it up and pull it strong. There’s a chair beside the table, And I’ll leave the porch light on. [End — quiet piano and acoustic guitar]
