Track 1 of the single Clocking Out · 2025
Porch Light Left On
by Earl Dupree & The Late Shift
“I wrote this for everybody who ever waited up for someone to come home. It's a slow, grateful ballad, and I tried to sing it like a porch light sounds.”
soul · southern r&b ballad · soul · late-night soul · 4:20
Lyrics
The kitchen clock says half past one The dishes dry upon the rack He tells himself he's not waiting up He's just not tired, he's just sitting back A cup of coffee going cold The window shows a empty street He knows the sound of every car And none of them is her yet Headlights slow and then they pass He lets the curtain fall Porch light left on, porch light left on A little yellow promise on the lawn You can go as far as the night will take you But the porch light left on will be burning when you're home Porch light left on He remembers small shoes on the stairs A bicycle that leaned against the wall He remembers saying be home by dark And how the dark was never hard at all Now she's grown and far away Some city with a river and a bridge Still he checks the bulb on Sunday nights Still he keeps the bridge of light for her Headlights slow and then they stop He doesn't move at all Porch light left on, porch light left on A little yellow promise on the lawn You can go as far as the night will take you But the porch light left on will be burning when you're home Porch light left on A car door closes in the dark Footsteps on the gravel, soft and slow No questions at the door, no speeches Just the kettle and the chair she used to know She says I know it's late, Dad He says the hour never mattered much She sets her bag down in the hallway And he lets his hand rest on her shoulder, just a touch The clock says half past two The house is warm in every room And the light outside goes on shining Though there's no one left to lead back home Porch light left on, porch light left on A little yellow promise on the lawn You can go as far as the night will take you But the porch light left on will be burning when you're home Porch light left on Leave it burning, leave it burning Porch light left on