Keep a Place for Me

Lyrics

[Intro] Mama left the porch light on Rain kept tapping at the screen I had a pocket full of bus fare And a head full of might-have-beens [Verse 1] I took the long way past the shuttered laundromat Shoelace dragging, old coat on my back You said, “Don’t make a home out of running away” I laughed like I had somewhere better to stay The payphone smelled like pennies and rain I called you collect, couldn’t finish the name Then a truck rolled by with the windows down And that low-end rumble shook the whole block around [Chorus] If I lose my way, keep a place for me At the kitchen table, where the old clock leans When the road runs out and the miles turn blue I’ll find my way back by the things you taught me to do [Verse 2] I learned that pride gets heavy when you carry it alone Learned a man can miss his people from a borrowed room I sent my first check home in a plain white fold You sent it right back with a note: “Keep your soul” Now the years stack up like dishes in the sink I still hear your voice when I’m too tired to think No grand parade, no clean escape Just a door held open and a little more grace [Chorus] If I lose my way, keep a place for me At the kitchen table, where the old clock leans When the road runs out and the miles turn blue I’ll find my way back by the things you taught me to do [Bridge] That old screen door still swings in the wind That chipped blue cup still waits by the tin I don’t need the world to say I made it through I just need one more evening there with you [Final Chorus] If I lose my way, keep a place for me At the kitchen table, where the old clock leans When the road runs out and the miles turn blue I’ll find my way back by the things you taught me to do I’ll find my way back, I’ll come through [Outro] Porch light burning, morning coming slow Some roads take you far just to teach you where to go