Welcome Home
Laura Osnes Lyrics

Johnny made it home
Johnny returned home from the war, although he is still physically affected by it.

Most of him at least
Johnny may have lost limbs or suffered injuries in the war.

Had three operations
Johnny underwent multiple surgeries to heal his wounds.

But the pain has not decreased
Johnny is still in physical pain from his injuries.

Nick learned to survive, means you never trust
Nick has learned survival skills in the war, which include not trusting others easily.

Once you see the worst in man then how do you adjust?
Nick has witnessed terrible things in war, making it hard for him to adjust to normal civilian life.

Davy cracks a joke, claims to be alright
Davy tries to hide his pain by pretending he is okay and making jokes.

Drinks a fifth of vodka in his kitchen every night
Davy has turned to alcohol to cope with his pain and trauma.

And I stand here trying
The artist is trying to help the soldiers in whatever way she can.

Like Mother Mary with my private burden of grief to carry
The artist feels like she has a heavy emotional burden, similar to what Mother Mary suffered when her son died.

Welcome home my boys
The singer is happy to have the soldiers return home.

Welcome home my sons
The artist considers the soldiers to be like her children.

Welcome home my husband
The singer is relieved that her husband has returned home safely from war.

Welcome home my love
The singer has missed her loved one and is happy to have them back home.

Wayne is never free, schedules out his day
Wayne tries to not think about his trauma and stays busy with a set schedule.

Filling every minute just to keep the ghosts away
Wayne tries to keep himself busy so that he doesn't have to confront his traumatic memories.

He could never get back the life he had
Wayne has lost the life he had before he went to war and can never get it back.

Faced with raising kids who did not recognize their dad
Wayne's children don't recognize him, likely due to his physical and emotional changes since the war.

Jimmy made it back to town four months ago
Jimmy returned home a few months ago.

Lived to tell of things no one could bear to know
Jimmy experienced things in war that are too difficult for anyone to understand.

Keeps his guard up now a lot goes undiscussed
Jimmy tries to keep his emotions and experiences to himself, likely to avoid upsetting others.

Focuses on fighting what he finds unjust
Jimmy channels his energy into fighting social injustices that he sees in the world.

Donny does his best, trying to pretend
Donny tries to hide his pain by pretending that everything is okay.

What he doesn′t talk about won't matter in the end
Donny thinks that keeping quiet about his trauma will make it go away, but this is not the case.

Donny made it home but thinks it wasn′t fair
Donny survived the war but feels guilty because others did not.

How he made it out but left his buddy there
Donny is struggling to cope with the loss of his friend in the war.

Donny doesn't sleep because the nightmares come
Donny suffers from PTSD, causing him to have recurrent nightmares.

Donny wants an answer
Donny wants to understand why he survived when others did not.

Donny looks for absolution
Donny seeks forgiveness for surviving the war when others did not.

And I would give up anything if I could give him some
The singer is willing to do whatever it takes to help Donny find peace and absolution.

If I stand here helpless, my arms extended
The singer feels powerless to help the soldiers, but she is still willing to try.

Knowing full well, darling, your war's not ended
The artist knows that even though the soldiers have returned home, their battle is not over.

Welcome home
The artist welcomes the soldiers home with open arms.

Welcome home my husband
The artist is happy to have her husband back home.

Welcome my love
The singer has missed her loved one and is happy to have them back home.

Welcome home my boys
The artist is relieved to have the soldiers back home safely.

Welcome home my sons
The singer sees the soldiers as her sons and is happy to have them home.

Welcome home my husband
The singer is overjoyed to have her husband return home safely.

Welcome home my love
The singer welcomes her loved one home with open arms.

Welcome home
The artist is happy to have the soldiers back home safely.