THAT PORCH WAS HOME AI Claude Bane Written by 12Gauge858 INTRO (SPOKEN) (Soft porch ambience. Distant crickets. Harmonica enters.) I drove by here tonight... Didn't plan to stop. Truth is... I wasn't sure I'd be welcome. But when somebody spends enough time bein' stubborn... Eventually life has a way of teachin' 'em. And... You were right. VERSE 1 Your boots ain't sittin' by the doorway That old chair still rocks in the breeze The screen door sounds the same as always But somethin' feels different to me I found your flannel in the closet Folded where you left it behind And that old key stuck in the floorboard crack Hit me harder than I thought it might PRE-CHORUS Funny how a house can stay the same But everything inside it changes Funny how a man can lose the world Before he ever knows he had it CHORUS That porch was home And I was too blind to see it I thought love would wait forever While I gave it every reason To leave That porch was home Every laugh and every light Every sunset in that rocker Every kiss and every fight Lord... That porch was home (Harmonica answers.) VERSE 2 You weren't askin' me for diamonds You weren't askin' me for gold You just wanted me beside you When life got heavy and cold You wanted somebody present Not somebody passin' through And lookin' back now I finally see You were only askin' for the truth PRE-CHORUS 2 I kept thinkin' love was somethin' That would always understand But love needs somebody willing To show up and be a man CHORUS That porch was home And I was too proud to know it I thought forever was automatic Didn't think I'd have to show it Every day That porch was home Every memory still remains Every board still knows your footsteps Every raindrop says your name Lord... That porch was home BRIDGE (Music drops to piano and harmonica only.) I ain't here askin' you to come back I ain't here askin' for another chance Truth is... I don't deserve one I just needed you to know I understand now I finally understand FINAL CHORUS That porch was home And I can finally say it You gave me somethin' real And I spent too long delayin' The words That porch was home And if I could do it all again I'd spend more time holdin' your hand And less time thinkin' I'd have time to spend Lord... That porch was home That porch was home And I didn't know it OUTRO (LONG FADE) (Music begins fading. Harmonica and piano remain.) I'm not causin' trouble... I ain't tellin' lies... Just came here to tell you You were right... And I'm sorry... For all the foolishness... Funny thing is... I understand now... I miss that porch... Lord, I miss that porch... (Rocking chair creaks.) And I can see grandma sittin' there... Finger twitchin' on that shotgun... Still wonderin' if I've learned a thing... Truth is... I have... Because that porch wasn't wood and nails... It wasn't boards and paint... It wasn't a house... It was laughter... It was family... It was you... And that porch... Was home... (Harmonica carries the melody into a slow fade.)
