words and music by Vienna Teng
it`s desert ice outside but this diner has thawed my ears
hot coffee in a clean white mug and a smile when the waitress hears
that I was born in North Carolina
not an hour from her home town
and we used to play the same pizza parlor pinball
and there`s a glance in time suspended as I wonder how it is
we`ve been swept up just by circumstance to where the coyote lives
where my days are strips of highway
and she`s wiping tables down
holding on and still waiting for that windfall
but I`ve come home
even though I`ve never had so far to go
I`ve come home
I pay the check and leave the change from a crumpled ten-dollar bill
head across the street where VACANCY is burning in neon still
well the night eats up my body heat
and there`s no sign of another
and I find myself slipping down into that black
but things are good I`ve got a lot of followers of my faith
I`ve got a whole congregation living in my head these days
and I`m preaching from the pulpit
to cries of “Amen brother”
closing my eyes to feel the warmth come back
and I`ve come home
even though I swear I`ve never been so alone
I`ve come home
I just want to be living as I`m dying
just like everybody here
just want to know my little flicker of time is worthwhile
and I don`t know where I`m driving to
but I know I`m getting old
and there`s a blessing in every moment every mile
thin white terry bars of soap and a couple little plastic cups
old Gideons Bible in the nightstand drawer saying “Go on open up”
well I`ll kneel down on the carpet here
though I never was sure of God
think tonight I`ll give Him the benefit of the doubt
I switch off the lights and imagine that waitress outlined in the bed
her hair falling all around me
I smile and shake my head
well we all write our own endings
and we all have our own scars
but tonight I think I see what it`s all about
because I`ve come home
I`ve come home
