Story: The House That Stopped Checking the Door
Verse 1
Pleasure came laughing
with sun in her hair
fear came trembling
and pulling up a chair
pain came heavy
with mud on his shoes
humor burst in
with ridiculous news
Sadness came quiet
and stood by the wall
peace came softly
not speaking at all
thought came talking
before it could see
and every one whispered
“Don’t blame this on me”
Pre-Chorus
They came from the same place
they crossed the same floor
but I stood like a guard
at the old inner door
Chorus
Visitors, visitors
all passing through
none of them chosen
none of them you
open the window
lay down the sword
no need to keep score
at the door anymore
Visitors, visitors
rain, laugh, and flame
different faces
same source, same name
let them arrive
let them move as they do
nothing that comes
needs to become you
Verse 2
I welcomed the sweet ones
and begged them to stay
I locked out the hard ones
and called that the way
but fear only shouted
from out in the hall
and pain grew louder
from behind the wall
Then shame came knocking
a regular guest
said, “I know the kitchen
I know where to rest”
and I said, “Not again,
not today, not now”
but she was already
inside somehow
Pre-Chorus
And the war with the visitor
hurt more than the guest
the fist around life
was the weight in the chest
Chorus
Visitors, visitors
all passing through
none of them chosen
none of them you
open the window
lay down the sword
no need to keep score
at the door anymore
Visitors, visitors
tightness and grace
every arrival
has its own face
let them be weather
let them be true
nothing that comes
needs to become you
Bridge
Welcome does not mean
I have to like pain
welcome does not mean
I dance in the rain
welcome just means
this is already here
before I call it
my failure, my fear
And even resistance
with arms folded tight
even the bouncer
who guards through the night
even the one who says
“No, not this”
is another small visitor
asking to exist
Verse 3
Peace came one morning
and I grabbed at her sleeve
she smiled like water
and got ready to leave
joy came singing
and I wanted a plan
to make her return
and become who I am
Then laughter arrived
with no reason to stay
and left just as freely
as fear did that day
and finally I saw it
or thought that I did
the door had been open
whatever I hid
Final Chorus
Visitors, visitors
all passing through
none of them chosen
none of them you
open the window
lay down the sword
no need to keep score
at the door anymore
Visitors, visitors
sorrow and sun
not two worlds
but appearing as one
let them arrive
let them leave when they do
life is the house
and the doorway is you
Outro
No guard
no test
no perfect guest
no wrong weather
in the chest
Pain comes
laughs too
fear comes
peace moves through
Visitors, visitors
from the same shore
knocking and entering
the open door
