Porch Light Medal

Lyrics

[Verse 1] He wakes before the sun By habit, not by need Left knee talks in winter From the years he used to bleed Dog tags in a coffee tin Beside his faded cap And every scar on his knuckles Knows the map that brought him back [Pre-Chorus] He don’t wear the uniform But it never left his skin When the wind hits that front porch The old parade begins [Chorus] Old soldier, sit easy now You carried us this far Old soldier, sit easy now Rest your broken, working heart (Old soldier) The war is done The porch light stays Till morning comes [Verse 2] He still folds the paper Like it’s orders in a tent Still counts out missing faces Like names that heaven lent The neighbors call him Mr. Ray The kids just call him sir He laughs and tosses peaches To the hound that follows her [Pre-Chorus] He don’t chase the glory He let it pass him by But there’s a whole damn country In the way he holds his eye [Chorus] Old soldier, sit easy now You carried us this far Old soldier, sit easy now Rest your broken, working heart (Old soldier) The war is done The porch light stays Till morning comes [Bridge] He taught his hands to tremble When he takes off his boots He learned that strength can soften And still remain the truth If you ask him what he’s proud of He’ll point to that gray yard A wife, a dog, a doorway And the moon above the barn [Final Chorus] Old soldier, sit easy now You carried us this far Old soldier, sit easy now Rest your broken, working heart (Old soldier) The war is done The porch light stays Till morning comes (Stay, stay) Till morning comes