LEAVE THE PORCH LIGHT ON

LEAVE THE PORCH LIGHT ON

[Verse 1]

I learned young that home ain't always
Four safe walls and somewhere warm.
Sometimes you learn to read the silence,
Feel the calm before the storm.

I could've carried all that darkness,
Let it settle in my bones.

Let the sorrows, lead my life
Live without a fight,
letting others stomp out my light

Instead I grew into the woman
I once needed in my home.

[Pre-Chorus]

Maybe that's why there's always room here,
Maybe that's why I understand—
Sometimes all a hurting heart needs
Is an open door and an open hand.

[Chorus]

So I leave the porch light on,
If you're lost, you'll find your way.
If you're hungry, pull up a chair,
I'll find another plate.

If you're tired, you can rest here.
You don't always have to be strong.

Life gave me every reason
To turn my whole heart cold—

But I built a bigger table
And left the porch light on.

[Verse 2]

I've filled this house on holidays,
Fed fifty like it wasn't a thing.
Passed the bowls and poured the coffee,
Made enough for everyone coming in.

Family, friend, or someone hurting,
I've never needed much to know—
If you truly need a hand to hold,
Mine's one I'll gladly show.

But I'll help you stand, not carry you
When you've learned to walk alone.
I'll give you shelter from the storm,
But you can't tear apart my home.

[Pre-Chorus]

I've got a strong line between right and wrong,
And I won't bend it just to please.
My heart can hold a whole lot of love—

But love ain't saying yes to everything you need.

[Chorus]

Yeah, I leave the porch light on,
But that don't mean there's no front door.
I'll give when you truly need me,
But I won't let you take and take some more.

I'll sit beside you in the darkness,
I'll tell the truth when truth gets tough.

Sometimes love is arms around you—

Sometimes “no” is love enough.

[Bridge — quiet, firm]

I can love you
And tell you you're wrong.

I can stand beside you
Without helping you stay where you don't belong.

I can forgive
And still remember.

I can understand
And still walk away.

And I don't have to hate somebody
To decide they cannot stay.

[Build]

Tough love is still love.

A boundary isn't hate.

Sometimes the kindest thing I'll ever do
Is refuse to help you stay the same.

[Bridge 2 — vulnerable]

There's a little girl inside me
Who once prayed for somewhere safe.

I wish that I could tell her,
“Baby, someday you'll make that place.”

You'll fill it up with laughter.
You'll fill those empty chairs.

You'll become the kind of woman
Who gives a damn when no one's there.

But listen, little girl—

You don't have to save them all.

Being strong for everybody
Doesn't mean you never fall.

Some will try to hurt you, their pain is just to great.
Your love is free, so it must be fake,

Don't take on their pain, baby girl
You have enough of your own.





[FINAL CHORUS — powerful]

So I'll leave the porch light on.
Let it shine against the dark.

There'll always be another chair
For someone needing somewhere to start.

These hands are soft enough to hold you,
This backbone's strong enough to stand.

I'll give you everything worth giving—

But I won't disappear to give a damn.

I know what's right.

I know what's wrong.

And I'll stand there even when I stand alone.

I didn't become loving
Because love was all I knew.

I chose to become the kind of love
I once went looking for, too.

[Final Build]

So come inside if you need shelter.

Sit down if life's been rough.

I'll feed you.

I'll hear you.

I'll help you back up.

But don't mistake my kindness
For permission to take too much.

I've got an open heart,
A strong backbone—

And tough love...

is still love.

[Outro — piano, soft female vocal]

The past didn't make me bitter.

It taught me right from wrong.

It wanted me weaker, but I am strong

My door ain't open to everybody...

But my light?

My light's still on.