Take the Long Way Home

Lyrics

[Verse 1] You came home wrapped in a yellow knit blanket June rain tapping soft on the screen Your mama fell asleep with you on her shoulder I stood there learning what forever means I knew the sound of an empty cupboard And hand-me-down shoes with a split at the seam So I kissed your brow and made a promise You’d have more than I had ever seen [Chorus] Little girl, take the long way home Run through the sprinklers, get your Sunday dress soaked There’ll be books on the shelf and a light left on A place at the table when the hard day’s long I can’t give you a world without sorrow But I’ll give you roots, and room to grow And every year as your heart learns to fly I’ll be right here, watching you go [Verse 2] We marked your height on the pantry doorway First day of school, then your missing-tooth grin You came back muddy from the creek behind us With a jar full of stones and a story to spin I learned to braid your hair in the kitchen Burned the toast while you laughed at me You never knew what we had to go without You just knew there was always enough to be [Chorus] Little girl, take the long way home Run through the sprinklers, get your Sunday dress soaked There’ll be books on the shelf and a light left on A place at the table when the hard day’s long I can’t give you a world without sorrow But I’ll give you roots, and room to grow And every year as your heart learns to fly I’ll be right here, watching you go [Bridge] One day that doorway mark will meet your shoulder You’ll pack your things and choose your own road I’ll try to smile when the driveway empties And keep your room just the way you know [Final Chorus] Little girl, take the long way home Chase every dream that keeps calling you on There’ll be a hand to hold when the road gets rough And a heart that believes you are more than enough I couldn’t give you a world without sorrow But I gave you roots, and room to grow And wherever your brave heart carries you now I’ll be right here, proud as you go [Outro] That yellow blanket’s folded in the drawer But I still see you there, brand new, asking for more