Track 6 of the album Quiet Thunder · 2018
Welcome Home, Stranger, Come On In
by Nina Vale
“A letter-lost, road-weary welcome. I wanted the whole horn section to sound like a front porch light.”
jazz-pop · jazz-pop · homecoming soul · 2:59
Lyrics
Fifteen years of letters lost And a thousand miles of road I got off the evening train With a small bag, and a load Of all the things I meant to say Now the old streets know my name The corner shop, the lamplit gate Nothing's changed and all has changed Welcome home, stranger, come on in The kettle's on, the door is wide Welcome home, stranger, come on in Put your heavy bags aside Years can't shut a door like this Years can't take the light Welcome home, stranger, come on in You're here, and it's all right There she stood on the front step Older, and the same Said I knew you by your walk Said I knew you by your name We didn't need the speeches We just held on tight Fifteen years went quiet In the porch light Welcome home, stranger, come on in The kettle's on, the door is wide Welcome home, stranger, come on in Put your heavy bags aside Years can't shut a door like this Years can't take the light Welcome home, stranger, come on in You're here, and it's all right Sing it for the ones who left Sing it for the ones who stayed Sing it for the road that brought us back And the table that she laid Welcome home, stranger, come on in The kettle's on, the door is wide Welcome home, stranger, come on in Put your heavy bags aside Years can't shut a door like this Years can't take the light Welcome home, stranger, come on in Welcome home, it's all right Come on in Come on in You're here, and it's all right