Blue Porch Light

He came home mad again

Keys hit the bowl by the door

Mama learned to move like smoke

On that old pine kitchen floor

I saw the crack in the frame

Where his fist met hard oak wood

And I held my breath real small

Like a child thinks that he should

But her eyes said, son, look here

There’s a road past this hurt

One brave step, one clean break

Can be worth more than words

Blue porch light

Burn it bright

We get out tonight

We get out tonight

Blue porch light

Hold on tight

Ain’t no chain on this house

Gonna keep us inside

She hid change in the flour tin

And a note under the sink

Kept the church lady’s number

On the back of a grocery receipt

When he slept off his anger

She packed one bag, no sound

Me and mama slipped the screen door

And never turned around

Now the river by the highway

Looks like a line in the dark

And every mile from that doorstep

Puts a little air in my heart

Blue porch light

Burn it bright

We get out tonight

We get out tonight

Blue porch light

Hold on tight

Ain’t no chain on this house

Gonna keep us inside

I still hear that shouting

When the winter wind rolls through

But I know a name for freedom

It’s the first door I ran through

If you’re living in the hurting

Take that hand, don’t let go

There’s a dawn past the storm line

And I’m proof it can show

Blue porch light

Burn it bright

We get out tonight

We get out tonight

Blue porch light

Hold on tight

Ain’t no chain on this house

Gonna keep us inside

Blue porch light

Burn it bright

We get out tonight

We get out tonight