Coming Home Takes More Than Keys

# Coming Home Takes More Than Keys **Intro** I’m outside. Just give me five. **Verse 1** The engine’s off, the dash goes dark My work shoes underneath the seat I’ve parked beside the same front door But coming home takes more than keys My bag has slipped into the footwell I leave it where it fell All day I found an answer Now I can’t answer for myself **Pre-Chorus** The porch light catches both my hands Still tightened round the wheel Nobody’s asking anything And I don’t know how that feels **Chorus** Five more minutes Before I turn that key Before somebody calls my name And needs something from me Let the speakers take the shouting I’ve been swallowing all day I’m right outside the life I love With nothing left to say Five more minutes Let the last song play **Verse 2** My phone lights up: “Are you home yet?” I type, “Nearly,” then erase I can see the kitchen window Someone moving through the place I know there’s food to put together I know there’s washing on the chair It’s not the weight of any one thing It’s that I’m needed everywhere **Pre-Chorus** I turn the volume up another notch Until the rear-view shakes For once I let a voice get louder Than the one that says I’m late **Chorus** Five more minutes Before I turn that key Before somebody calls my name And needs something from me Let the speakers take the shouting I’ve been swallowing all day I’m right outside the life I love With nothing left to say Five more minutes Let the last song play **Bridge** I love the footsteps in the hallway I love the people waiting there That’s why I hate how hard it feels To lift my hand and leave this chair If I walk in with my jaw clenched They’ll hear a day they didn’t cause I need a moment with no questions No one hurt by how I talk **Breakdown** Let me be tired Without explaining Let me sit still Without a plan I’ve spent the day Holding things together Now I can barely Get out of here **Final Chorus** Five more minutes Then I’ll turn that key And if somebody asks tonight I’ll say what’s wrong with me “I’ve been running since this morning And I’ve used up all I had Could you sit here for a moment? Could the washing wait for that?” Five more minutes I don’t have to hide How much it took to get here Before I came inside **Outro** The track runs out. I hear my breath. I lift my bag. I take the steps.