The Weight of the Block

[Verse 1]
Mama left the porch light on
Though she knew I'd miss the train
I was walking past the corner store
Where they wrote my friend's name

Everybody had a reason
Everybody had a debt
I learned to keep my eyes ahead
And carry what I couldn't forget

[Chorus]
I can hear that choir through the walls
When the whole street goes quiet
I was raised beneath these broken lights
But I don't have to die here

[Verse 2]
Saw his little brother yesterday
Wearing shoes a size too wide
Asked me if the stories were all true
I said, “He loved you,” and I lied

Then I took him down to Mama's
Where the porch light still was on
We sat there till the buses came
And watched the dark move on

[Chorus]
I can hear that choir through the walls
When the whole street goes quiet
I was raised beneath these broken lights
But I don't have to die here

[Outro]
Leave the porch light on
Someone's coming home