Starve the Need, Feed the Light by Bubba Patrick

[Spoken intro — guitar only]
You know, sometimes the hardest person to quit chasing
is the one you keep asking to tell you who you are.
Took me a while to hear the quiet.
Here's what I learned.

[Verse 1 — fingerpicked Martin]
I used to be the loudest in the room,
Smilin' through a worried afternoon.
If somebody frowned, I'd go and change my tune,
Tryin' to make a little sunshine out of someone else's moon.
Had a thousand different ways to play my part,
But not a single quiet place inside my heart.
Then I heard that stillness call my name,
Said, son, you can lay that old act down today.

[Short harmonica answer]

[Chorus — open acoustic strum]
Starve the need, feed the light,
Lay that old resentment down tonight.
Don't go beggin' for a love to make you whole,
There's a road back to the Father in your soul.
Let love be a lantern, not a rope pulled tight;
Starve the need, feed the light.

[Verse 2 — back to fingerpicking]
I thought somebody's yes could set me free,
But I was carryin' old hurt around with me.
You can blame the whole wide world for every scar,
Still feel that same old trouble wherever you are.
Now when the fire rises, I don't have to fight;
I can watch it lose its hold in the quiet night.
I can forgive the ones who never understood,
And do the next right thing because the next thing's good.

[Chorus]
Starve the need, feed the light,
Lay that old resentment down tonight.
Don't go beggin' for a love to make you whole,
There's a road back to the Father in your soul.
Let love be a lantern, not a rope pulled tight;
Starve the need, feed the light.

[Harmonica solo — eight bars, Martin guitar underneath]

[Bridge — tender, almost spoken]
Some love came wrapped in worry,
Some came tangled up in fear.
I can honor where I came from
Without carryin' every tear.
Strength ain't makin' people follow,
Strength is seein' what is true.
And when old hurt comes knockin',
I don't have to answer you.

[Final chorus — gentle lift]
Starve the need, feed the light,
Let the old ache pass and let the heart turn right.
I don't need another voice to make me whole,
I can stand before the Father with an open soul.
Let love be a lantern, not a rope pulled tight;
Starve the need, feed the light.

[Spoken outro — last guitar chord rings]
Love oughta point the way, not pull the reins.
Keep your heart right and your porch light on.
And all is well.

2369/7500

[Spoken intro — guitar only] You know, sometimes the hardest person to quit chasing is the one you keep asking to tell you who you are. Took me a while to hear the quiet. Here's what I learned. [Verse 1 — fingerpicked Martin] I used to be the loudest in the room, Smilin' through a worried afternoon. If somebody frowned, I'd go and change my tune, Tryin' to make a little sunshine out of someone else's moon. Had a thousand different ways to play my part, But not a single quiet place inside my heart. Then I heard that stillness call my name, Said, son, you can lay that old act down today. [Short harmonica answer] [Chorus — open acoustic strum] Starve the need, feed the light, Lay that old resentment down tonight. Don't go beggin' for a love to make you whole, There's a road back to the Father in your soul. Let love be a lantern, not a rope pulled tight; Starve the need, feed the light. [Verse 2 — back to fingerpicking] I thought somebody's yes could set me free, But I was carryin' old hurt around with me. You can blame the whole wide world for every scar, Still feel that same old trouble wherever you are. Now when the fire rises, I don't have to fight; I can watch it lose its hold in the quiet night. I can forgive the ones who never understood, And do the next right thing because the next thing's good. [Chorus] Starve the need, feed the light, Lay that old resentment down tonight. Don't go beggin' for a love to make you whole, There's a road back to the Father in your soul. Let love be a lantern, not a rope pulled tight; Starve the need, feed the light. [Harmonica solo — eight bars, Martin guitar underneath] [Bridge — tender, almost spoken] Some love came wrapped in worry, Some came tangled up in fear. I can honor where I came from Without carryin' every tear. Strength ain't makin' people follow, Strength is seein' what is true. And when old hurt comes knockin', I don't have to answer you. [Final chorus — gentle lift] Starve the need, feed the light, Let the old ache pass and let the heart turn right. I don't need another voice to make me whole, I can stand before the Father with an open soul. Let love be a lantern, not a rope pulled tight; Starve the need, feed the light. [Spoken outro — last guitar chord rings] Love oughta point the way, not pull the reins. Keep your heart right and your porch light on. And all is well.

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