Lantern
Josh Ritter Lyrics

Be the light of my lantern, the light of my lantern, be the light
I need someone to guide me, to provide me with hope and support.

Be the light of my lantern, the light of my lantern, tonight
I need someone to help me overcome my current struggles, even if it's just for tonight.

I need light in my lantern, light in my lantern, tonight
I need guidance and hope to navigate this dark and difficult world.

It's a hungry world out there
The world is full of need and despair.

Even the wind will take a bite
The struggles of life can come from unexpected sources.

I can feel the world circling
I feel like the world is closing in on me.

Sniffing round me in the night
The hardships of life are always lurking around me.

And the lost sheep grow teeth
People in need will do anything to survive, even if it means hurting others.

Forsake the lambs and lie with the lions
People must be ruthless in order to survive in this world.

And the living is desperate
Life is hard and full of desperation.

Precarious and mean
Life is full of risks and hardships, and people can be cruel.

And getting by is so hard
Surviving in this world is a constant struggle.

That even the rocks are picked clean
Even the most basic resources are scarce and hard to come by.

And the bones of small contention
People are willing to fight over anything when resources are scarce.

Are the only food the hungry find
People in need will do anything to survive, even if it means eating things they would normally avoid.

Where the thistles eat the thorns
The world can be a harsh and unforgiving place.

And the roses have no chance
Even the beauty of the world can be destroyed by the harsh reality of life.

And it ain't no wonder that the babies
It's no surprise that people are born into a harsh and unfair world.

Come out crying in advance
People are born into a life full of struggle and sadness.

And the children look for shelter
Even children know that the world can be a scary and dangerous place.

In the hollow of some lonesome cheek
Children seek comfort and safety where they can find it.

And the sky's so cold and clear
The world can seem bleak and unforgiving.

The stars might stick you where you stand
The beauty of the world can be deceiving and even dangerous.

And you're only glad it's dark 'cause
Sometimes it's easier to face the world when we can't see its true nature.

You might see the master's hand
We might see the unfair and cruel nature of the world.

For every cry in the night
There is always someone in need of help.

Somebody says, have faith
People often turn to faith to find hope and guidance in difficult times.

Be content inside your questions
Sometimes, we must accept that we don't have all the answers.

Minotaurs inside a maze
The challenges of life can feel overwhelming and insurmountable.

Tell me what's the point of light
What is the use of hope and guidance if we must struggle to find it?

That you have to strike a match to find?
Why must we struggle to find guidance and hope, when we need it most?

So throw away those lamentations
We must let go of our sorrows and focus on finding hope and guidance.

We both know them all too well
We are all familiar with the struggles and hardships of life.

If there's a book of Jubilations
If there is a book of hope and joy to be found, we must write it ourselves.

We'll have to write it for ourselves
We must create hope and joy for ourselves, despite the hardships of life.

So come and lie beside me darling
We must come together to create hope and joy for ourselves and each other.

And let's write it while we still got time
We must act now to create hope and joy before it's too late.

So if you got a light, hold it high for me
We must help each other find hope and guidance in dark times.

I need it bad tonight, hold it high for me
I need hope and guidance to survive tonight.

Cause I'm face to face, hold it high for me
I am in desperate need of hope and guidance.

In that lonesome place, hold it high for me
I am in a dark and lonely place, and I need help to find my way out.

With all the hurt that I've done, hold it high for me
Despite my past mistakes, I still need hope and guidance to get by.

That can't be undone, hold it high for me
I must live with the consequences of my past mistakes, but I still need help to move forward.

Light and guide me through, hold it high for me
I need someone to light the way and guide me through this difficult time.

I'll do the same for you, hold it high for me
I will help you find hope and guidance in dark times, just as you have done for me.

I'll hold it high for you, 'cause I know you've got
I will be there to help you find hope and guidance when you need it, because I know you are struggling too.

I'll hold it high for you, your own valley to walk
I will help you find hope and guidance as you navigate your own struggles.

I'll hold it high for you, though it's dark as death
I will be there for you even in the darkest of times.

I'll hold it high for you, and then gets darker yet
I will help you find hope and guidance even as things get worse.

I'll hold it high for you, though your path seems lost
I will be there to help you find your way when you feel lost and hopeless.

I'll hold it high for you, through the thieves and rocks
I will help you navigate the challenges and obstacles that life throws your way.

I'll hold it high for you, keep you safe from harm
I will do my best to keep you safe and protected as you navigate the hardships of life.

I'll hold it high for you, until you're back in my arms
I will be there for you until you find your way back to a place of safety and comfort.