Caution Still Walks You Home

Lyrics

[Verse 1] Jose keeps his boots by the door Though the uniform hangs in a box He checks the latch, checks it once more Counts each car as it turns past the block [Pre-Chorus] At the grocery store he takes the end aisle Back to the wall, eyes on the room He tells you he’s fine with a half-sized smile Then heads back to work before noon [Chorus] Jose, you came home but you never came down You walk through the day with your guard up still Every small sound makes you turn around Every long shift is another hill All work, no rest, no room to let go You carry the watch wherever you roam Jose, the war may be over on paper But caution still walks you home [Verse 2] He fixes the fence and the neighbor’s sink Takes the late shift when someone calls out There’s coffee gone cold by the kitchen sink And a chair he forgets to sit down [Pre-Chorus] His sister says, “Stay for supper tonight” He says, “Just one thing,” and leaves before dark He keeps every promise, gets every job right But saves none of the day for his heart [Chorus] Jose, you came home but you never came down You walk through the day with your guard up still Every small sound makes you turn around Every long shift is another hill All work, no rest, no room to let go You carry the watch wherever you roam Jose, the war may be over on paper But caution still walks you home [Bridge] One Sunday he leaves the tools in the shed Lets the dust settle, lets the phone ring His sister sets a place and pulls out a chair He sits there a while, not fixing a thing [Final Chorus] Jose, you came home, now take one breath slow The day can keep turning without you awhile You don’t have to earn every minute you own You can sit at the table and stay for a while All work, no rest—you’ve carried enough Let someone else stand watch till the dawn Jose, the war may be over on paper And maybe tonight you can set the load down [Outro] Boots by the door, but he’s staying inside The coffee is warm, and the chair holds his weight