Let the Listening In

[Spoken Intro — Bubba, over gentle acoustic picking] You know, I've been thinking... Everybody's got something to say these days. But sometimes I wonder... Is anybody listening? [Harmonica answers] [Verse 1] Two rocking chairs on a weathered porch, Two cups of coffee steaming, One man came with a question, The other came with a reason. One said, "Give me yes or no," The other said, "Now, wait!" They talked right past each other Till the sun went down that day. [Pre-Chorus] You can tell me what you believe, I'll tell you what I know, But if we're both doing all the talking, How's understanding gonna grow? [Chorus] Let the listening in, Let the daylight through, I don't have to think like you, You don't have to walk in my shoes. We can disagree, my friend, And still shake hands again, Before we start another fight, Let the listening in. Oh, let the listening in! [Harmonica Solo — eight bars] [Verse 2] One man said, "What's right and wrong?" The other said, "Who's deciding?" Both were standing on their ground, Neither one was hiding. One asked, "What makes a man?" The other said, "A heart that's true." But somewhere in the argument, The meaning never made it through. [Pre-Chorus] A question can be a doorway, Or a hammer in your hand, One can open up a conversation, One can knock it down again. [Chorus] Let the listening in, Let the daylight through, I don't have to think like you, You don't have to walk in my shoes. We can disagree, my friend, And still shake hands again, Before we start another fight, Let the listening in. [Bridge — Acoustic Guitar Softens] You can stand upon your principles, You can speak what's on your mind, But the truth don't need a bully, And grace ain't hard to find. You don't have to change your answer, You don't have to sacrifice your stand, Sometimes the strongest thing you'll ever do Is listen to another man. [Final Chorus — Stronger Vocal] Let the listening in, Let the daylight through, There's a whole lot more to living Than proving I'm right and you're a fool. We may never see things eye to eye, But there's room beneath this sky, To disagree and still be friends... So let the listening in! [Harmonica Outro] [Spoken Outro — Bubba] You know something? You can win every argument... And still lose every friend you've got. Sometimes you just gotta pull up another chair. Keep your heart right... And your porch light on. And all is well.