[INTRO – SPOKEN] [BUBBA] Well, Darlene… You ever notice how far away home can feel… even when it’s right there waiting on you? [DARLENE] Sometimes you gotta get lost before you understand what home means. [BUBBA] Well… I reckon I’ve been lost enough. [HARMONICA – slow, warm blues phrase] [VERSE 1 – BUBBA] I spent some years out on the highway, Chasing things that wouldn’t stay. Every road I thought would save me Only carried me away. I had whiskey in my bottle, Had trouble on my mind, And every mile I traveled Left another mile behind. [VERSE 2 – DARLENE] But somewhere back in Georgia, There’s a little light that shines. It ain’t a palace or a mansion, But it’s home and it is mine. There’s a chair beside the doorway, There’s a table waiting too, And there’s somebody who still loves you When you don’t know what to do. [CHORUS – BOTH] The porch light’s burning, The door is open wide. You don’t have to keep on running, You don’t have to hide. The road may be long behind you, The night may have been cold, But the porch light’s burning, And there’s still a place called 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’ve seen doors close behind me, I’ve felt the weight of shame. I’ve spent too many mornings Trying not to say my name. But God don’t throw away a man Just because he’s been down low. Sometimes He lets you hit the bottom So you’ll finally look up and know. [VERSE 4 – DARLENE] And home ain’t always perfect, And love ain’t always easy. There’ll be days we disagree, And days the road gets uneasy. But if we keep the light on, And keep forgiveness near, Maybe somebody lost out there Will find their way back here. [HARMONICA SOLO – BUBBA] [VERSE 5 – BUBBA] Now I don’t need the highway To prove that I am free. Freedom ain’t another bottle, And it ain’t another dream. Freedom is waking in the morning With nothing left to hide, Looking in the mirror And knowing God’s still by your side. [CHORUS – BOTH] The porch light’s burning, The door is open wide. You don’t have to keep on running, You don’t have to hide. The road may be long behind you, The night may have been cold, But the porch light’s burning, And there’s still a place called home. [BRIDGE – GOSPEL CALL & RESPONSE] [BUBBA] When I was lost— [DARLENE] The light was on. [BUBBA] When I was weak— [DARLENE] The light was on. [BUBBA] When I was gone— [DARLENE] The light was on. [BOTH] And when I came back home, The light was still on. [VERSE 6 – BOTH] [BUBBA] So I’ll build this house with honesty— [DARLENE] I’ll fill it up with grace. [BUBBA] I’ll leave the anger at the doorway— [DARLENE] And put forgiveness in its place. [BUBBA] I’ll tell the ones I love them— [DARLENE] Before another day goes by. [BOTH] And thank the Lord for every morning That He puts that porch light in our eyes. [FINAL CHORUS – FULL] The porch light’s burning, The door is open wide. You don’t have to keep on running, You don’t have to hide. The years may be behind us, The future may unfold, But the porch light’s burning, And there’s still a place called home. The porch light’s burning, Through the rain and through the cold. The porch light’s burning, For the young and for the old. If you’ve wandered far from mercy, If you’ve wandered from the fold, Keep walking toward the light… There’s still a place called home. [FINAL YODEL – BOTH] Yodel-ay-ee… Yodel-ay-oh… [BUBBA] Keep walking home… [DARLENE] Keep walking home… [BOTH] Yodel-ay-ee… The light is still on. [OUTRO – SPOKEN] [BUBBA] Darlene? [DARLENE] Yes? [BUBBA] You reckon that light will stay on? [DARLENE] As long as somebody remembers to turn it on. [BUBBA] Well… I’ll handle that. [HARMONICA – soft closing phrase] [BUBBA] Good night, y’all. The light’s on.
