Walkin' Home

Iris DeMent

I'm walkin' home tonight

The streets are glowing 'neath the pale moonlight

I look around, there's not a soul in sight

and I'm walkin' home

Once again I hear my mother's voice

and all us kids making a bunch of noise

If I'm not careful I might start to cry

Just walkin' home tonight



I turn my head and hear the screen door slam

and there he is, that tall and dark-haired man

He looks my way but all alone he stands

and I am walkin' home

He's my Dad, you know I was his girl

He taught me all he knew about this world

and then he traveled right on out of sight

and I'm just walkin' home tonight



I'm walkin' home tonight

The streets are glowing 'neath the pale moonlight

I look around, there's not a soul in sight

and I am walkin' home



Old worn-out couches and a bunch of kids

Four to a bedroom and all Mom's plates were chipped

but I never knew about the things I missed

and I'm walkin' home

You see, it's just the place where I come from

and, good or bad, it's where the deal was done

Mom and Dad, their daughters and their sons

and I'm just walkin' home tonight



I'm walkin' home tonight

The streets are glowing 'neath the pale moonlight

I look around, there's not a soul in sight

and I'm walkin' home

Once again I hear my mother's voice

and all us kids making a bunch of noise

If I'm not careful I might start to cry

Just walkin' home tonight