Wake Me at Sunset - Light This City

A flash brighter than lightning overhead

But my town is asleep

So they don’t see my father coming home

I imagine him walking in the middle of this night

All the way back to us

He likes to look up at the sky as he steps out onto familiar ground

Now he’s rounding our corner

Now he’s walking through the door

He’s walking through the door

And my mother with her deadened eyes

She comes alive

Don’t go

I plead even though I know

I know his strong love for us both won’t keep him from the sky

I know it tears him up inside to say it’s only one more time

He knows it’s just a lie he wants to believe

I need the stars flying by me

The earth afloat

Above or below

It doesn’t matter where

Just as long as it isn’t right here

I’ll be back before you know it

And then I promise you I’ll be home for good

Let me go with you

I have begged ever since I was a child

I know just what he’s going to say

I don’t want you to end up like me

Aching between the mystery of new planets to be explored

And the comfort of this ancient discovery beneath our feet

You’ll struggle to give up that which you love

And it’s not easy

Son

Just please promise me you won’t become like me

I just nod and let go even though I know

I know his strong love for us both won’t keep him from the sky

I know it tears him up inside to say it’s only one more time

A flash as bright as a rocket ship exploding

But my town is asleep

So they don’t see my father die

I imagine him falling into the sun

And I look up at the sky

If only you would have stayed this time

Now he’s rounding the corner

Now he’s walking through the door

Please just walk through that door

When I asked him how many ways one could die in space

He said a million

They call them traveling graves

If they can’t find you

Then they can’t bury you

Imagine how it feels to envy the stars and resent the sun

Morning won’t ever be the same

You never kept your promise

So I’m not keeping mine

Wake me at sunset so I can say goodbye