Old Porch Light

A family song · Songbond

0:003:34

A song written from a true story

The story & lyrics

The story behind this song

The night she drove off to college, he left the porch light on — and he's left it on every night since. The door still creaks the way it always did, the posters still hang in her old room, and the swing on the porch still sways in the evening breeze the way it did when she was three. No need to call ahead, no need to say a word.

He sees her smile in the framed photos, hears her laugh when it rains, and to him she's still the little girl with scraped-up knees.

For the parent who'll leave the light burning, however far their kid roams and however late they come.

Lyrics

You packed your bags, you chased your dreams
Left this small town like a movie scene
But every time the night gets cold
Just know there’s a light that never gets old

The door still creaks the way it did
And your posters still hang in your old room, kid

There’s an old porch light still burning for you
A welcome back sign that never moved
The swing still sways in the evening breeze
Just like it did when you were three
No matter how far you choose to roam
You’ll always have a way back home

I see your smile in the photos framed
Your laugh still echoes when it rains
You may have grown, but to me you’ll be
The little girl with scraped-up knees

No need to call, no need to say
I already miss you every day

Go chase the sky, I’ll cheer you on
But I’ll leave your light on when you’re gone

That old porch light still shining bright
For every time you miss the night
Or need a hug, or Sunday stew
Or just a place that feels like you
No matter where you plant your name
My love for you will never change

Write your own