Last Light on Maple Street

The porch rail wore a coat of frost

My key still knew the door (ooh)

I parked beside the maple stump Where Dad would shovel snow

The street was smaller than the map

I carried long ago

The hallway smelled like cedar chests And coats from winter rain

I touched the mark beside the stairs Where Mom once wrote my

name

Every room had kept its weather

Every frame held someone gone

I came looking for December But the years kept moving on (ahhhh)

You can come home for Christmas

But not to who you were The tree may stand in the

window

The fire may still burn I held the house like a prayer

Then let the child go

You can come home for Christmas

But childhood won't come home (ooh, ooh)

The kitchen clock was five minutes slow Like it had made a

choice

I heard my brother down the hall

In memory, not voice

A box of cards from schoolyard friends Lay tied with faded thread

I laughed at every crooked line And cried at what they said

(hahaha, ahhhh) I

found my old coat in the closet

Too small across the sleeve

Some part of me still reached for it Some part of me

believed Then snow began against the glass And I knew what leaving

means (ooh)

You can come home for Christmas

But not to who you were The tree may stand in the

window

The fire may still burn I locked the door at

morning With snow across the road I carried home within me

And drove out slow

(ooh, ooh)