I CAME HOME WITH THE WAR

Intro I left my rifle at the station But the war came through the door

Verse 1 She stood barefoot in the hallway With my youngest at her side He knew me from a photograph I knew him by his eyes I kissed her like a stranger Held him like a thing that breaks Left my rifle at the station Brought home every sound it made

Pre-Chorus They pinned brass upon my jacket Called the killing something proud Nobody heard the battlefield Still marching through the house

Chorus I came home with the war Mud still sleeping in my boots She held the man who left her But something else came through I came home with the war Every silence sounded armed I lay beside the woman I loved And slept like I was still on guard

Verse 2 My little girl drew all of us Beneath a yellow sun Then colored me in charcoal With a black shape for a gun She asked why I checked windows Why I slept against the wall I said, “Some doors stay open, baby— Even after they are closed”

Bridge My wife quit asking what I saw Started asking where I went Every time the room went quiet And my eyes left her again They said the war was over The war never heard them say it I came home with the war She met me at the door Said, “You don’t have to win tonight— Just don’t fight alone no more” I came home with the war But she would not let me leave She held the man beneath the uniform Till I remembered how to breathe

Outro This morning when the door slammed… I stayed.

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