If & When Lyrics

(I'm still)
This room gets smaller with every coat of paint.
Nobody ever got better this way, hey, hey.
(I'm still, hey, hey)
It's been two mean seasons
they say you won't come back,
they say a girl who's decent would long be in her blacks by now.

But I'm no young widow
like they're calling me in town
I'll leave the light on in your window
if I have to burn the whole thing down.
And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only guide to call you home,
And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only beacon in the snow

After they turned the power out,
after the candle sticks burned down,
I burned the furniture, the picture frames, all the fabric in the house.
I turned to photographs,
your voice came through the cold,
last words you said to soothe my nervousness,
"Keep one light on, I'll always find my way"

I tore the pages from your books
wall paper down,
and then I took myself upstairs,
and your straight razor to my braids

And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only guide to call you home,
And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only beacon in the snow

When I exhausted all the tinder,
the house was dark for days.
Since I thought to remove the oven door,
I've been kneeling here to guard this flame.
The neighbors have stopped calling
now their children come throw stones,
and the papers from the bankers
say they doubt you're coming home.
They found a man you know,
a drifter in the barn last year.
While I was sleeping,
must have made it to the house,
they found him frozen in your clothing dear.

And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only guide to call you home,
And I, (I'm staying) I'd stop, (waiting)
but the pilot light's the only beacon in the snow