"Please, Leave a Light On"
[Intro: Soft acoustic guitar intro, ambient nature sounds — crickets, soft wind]
[Verse 1]
I was born in a shack out by where the Cumberland bends
Used to watch the fog rise up where the pines never end
Mama used to leave a light on ‘cause Pa went out at night
Left home when I was just sixteen, before I learned to fight
I went in the army after 9’11…saw things I couldn’t unsee
Tried to block the screams with my memories of the trees
[Chorus]
Please leave a light on, I don’t care if it’s dim
For a man who fell too far but wants to find his way again
Let a little light shine through those Appalachian rains
In the dark of Laurel Canyon… I’m climbing out of shame
I know I don’t deserve it but I’m comin’ home to stay
Please, leave a light on — ‘cause I’m finally on my way
[Verse 2]
When I came home, I hid from the pain behind my eyes
I got lost in booze and pills but I couldn’t run from the lies
My wife had enough when the drugs wore off, I broke her heart
But please tell her I’m still here, tryin’ to make a fresh start
I still hear my little girl in my dreams some nights
Saying, “Daddy come home” — now I’m making it right
[Chorus]
Please leave a light on, I don’t care if it’s dim
For a man who fell too far but wants to find his way again
Let a little light shine through those Appalachian rains
In the dark of Laurel Canyon… I’m climbing out of shame
I know I don’t deserve it but I’m comin’ home to stay
Please, leave a light on — ‘cause I’m finally on my way
[Verse 3]
Ashland skies and waves of bluegrass hold fond memories
Where I left my scars and my pain in the hollers and in the trees
The drugs had quite a grip, but the mountains pulled me free
On old Kentucky backroads… I found a better part of me
I let the war and the hate in and then I lost my way
So if you see my family, tell them I want to stay
[Bridge]
There’s a home along the Ohio where the porch light stays on
It’s a memory of hope and mercy, where I feel I still belong
I ain’t askin’ for a second chance to start off all brand new
Just a little space at the table, and a light to guide me through
[Verse 4]
I blamed my addiction on my daddy and on the Taliban
But then I realized that the demons were there all along
So light a candle in Corbin, or hang a bulb in Fort Wright
Let it burn for all the broken, trying to find the light
I’ll follow every flash and every flicker ‘til I make it home
‘Cause I ain’t the man I used to be…
…since I realized I was not alone
[Chorus]
Please leave a light on, I don’t care if it’s dim
For a man who fell too far but wants to find his way again
Let a little light shine through those Appalachian rains
In the dark of Laurel Canyon… I’m climbing out of shame
I know I don’t deserve it but I’m comin’ home to stay
Please, leave a light on — ‘cause I’m finally on my way
[Outro: Gentle guitar fade, soft harmonica echoes in the distance]
[End]
Song Description
“Please Leave a Light On” is a heartfelt indie folk-rock ballad rooted in the Appalachian landscapes of rural Kentucky. Told through the voice of a son, brother, and husband who’s endured war, addiction, and loss, the song chronicles a long journey back to redemption, framed by vivid imagery and soaring, emotional choruses. It's a soul-bearing anthem of humility, hope, and homecoming.
