My Sons Bring a Soldier Home

Lyrics

[Intro] I came home with my boots by the door But the room still shakes when the engines roar [Verse 1] The welcome sign faded in the windshield rain I knew every mile, still I couldn't feel my name My wife left the porch light burning low I hugged her too hard, then I let her go The kitchen clock ticks like a warning bell I sleep with one eye open, you can never tell There’s sand in the seams of an old duffel bag And a photograph folded in a uniform tag [Pre-Chorus] They say the war is over when the plane touches down But a battlefield can follow you into a quiet town [Chorus] I’m home, but my mind’s still out there Breathing dust and scanning everywhere Then my boys run down that hallway floor And I remember what I’m fighting for Two small hands pull me back again Call me Dad, and the war grows thin I’m home, I’m home, but part of me roams Till my sons bring a soldier back home [Verse 2] I take the long way past the county line Old habits ride shotgun, checking every sign A backfire cracks and my shoulders rise I laugh it off, but they see it in my eyes My oldest leaves a wooden truck beside my bed My youngest asks if the bad dreams have fled I tell them brave don’t mean you never break It means you reach for love with whatever strength you make [Rap Verse] Listen, I don’t need a medal on the wall I need a night where I don’t wake before the call Need the porch, need the rain, need the dog by the gate Need a reason to believe I’m not too late I carried every face through the heat and smoke Every promise I made, every word I spoke Now I’m learning that peace ain’t a switch you flip It’s a hand in your palm and a child on your hip So if I go quiet, don’t mistake it for gone I’m still finding my way from the place I came from My boys say my name, and the room turns clear That’s the closest thing to home I’ve felt all year [Chorus] I’m home, but my mind’s still out there Breathing dust and scanning everywhere Then my boys run down that hallway floor And I remember what I’m fighting for Two small hands pull me back again Call me Dad, and the war grows thin I’m home, I’m home, but part of me roams Till my sons bring a soldier back home [Bridge] Tonight I kneel beside their beds Count the curls across their heads No bugle, no convoy, no desert sky Just sleepy voices asking why I say, “I’m here,” and they believe For one more night, I can breathe [Electric Guitar Solo] [Final Chorus] I’m home, and I’m learning to stay One ordinary breath, one ordinary day When my boys run down that hallway floor I don’t hear the engines anymore Two small hands pull me back again Call me Dad, and I can live within I’m home, I’m home, let the old ghosts roam My sons bring a soldier back home My sons bring a soldier back home [Outro] The boots by the door don’t own me now I’m here with my boys, and I know how To take one breath, then another one Till the war lets go, and the morning comes