Light the Way
The Bacon Brothers Lyrics


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Written by Kevin Bacon

"It's about having the strength to re-define your life's work. A follow-up to 'Guess Again.'" KB

Emma Rae's riding on a north-bound train
Spilling all that pain
On the plains of Dover
Emma Rae's crying from a hot cell phone
She said she never felt so alone
This time the dream is over

Surely this is her darkest hour
I've even heard her talk about a higher power
Deep in her heart comes a tiny voice
And it says "hold on momma,
'Cause you've got one last choice"

Bring your dreams down to the river
And let the water wash all your dreams away
When the night comes, it will deliver
Through the darkness, your heart is gonna light the way

Old man standing on a soap box
He's wearing wool socks
On the hottest day all year
Old man preachin' to the handful
With a head full
He says "the end is surely near"
Now, who among you even cares?
They're turnin' circles into squares
But deep in his heart comes a tired voice
And it says "hold on daddy,
You've got one last choice"

Bring your dreams down to the river
And let the water wash all your dreams away
When the night comes, it will deliver
Through the darkness, your heart is gonna light the way
Light the way, light the way
Through the darkness, your heart is gonna light the way





Light the way, oh light the way
Through the darkness, your heart is gonna light the way

Overall Meaning

The Bacon Brothers' song, "Light the Way," is a song about finding the courage to redefine your life's purpose. It serves as a follow-up to their previous song, "Guess Again." The song is about two different scenarios: Emma Rae's struggle and an old man's preaching. Emma Rae is riding on a north-bound train, upset and crying on the phone about feeling alone. Despite being in her darkest hour, there is a voice inside her heart telling her to hold on because she has one last choice. The song advises her to bring her dreams down to the river and let them wash away. Because in the darkness, her heart is going to light the way.


Similarly, an old man is standing on a soapbox wearing wool socks preaching to a handful of people. He warns that the end is near, but people are not paying attention. Despite this, he hears a voice inside his heart telling him to hold on because he has one last choice. Both Emma and the old man are fighting different battles, but they share a similar struggle. This song is a reminder that even in our darkest times, we should hold on to our dreams, and when everything is lost, it's our heart that will light the way.


Line by Line Meaning

Emma Rae's riding on a north-bound train
Emma Rae is moving in a new direction in her life


Spilling all that pain
She's sharing her struggles and hardships


On the plains of Dover
In a wide open space with no direction in sight


Emma Rae's crying from a hot cell phone
Feeling alone and desperate for connection and support


She said she never felt so alone
Her feelings of isolation are intense and overwhelming


This time the dream is over
Her hopes and aspirations have not come to fruition


Surely this is her darkest hour
She is facing her toughest challenge yet


I've even heard her talk about a higher power
She's exploring spirituality for guidance and support


Deep in her heart comes a tiny voice
She has an inner voice urging her to keep going


And it says "hold on momma, 'Cause you've got one last choice"
She has a decision to make that could change the course of her life


Bring your dreams down to the river
Let go of unrealistic or unattainable goals


And let the water wash all your dreams away
Release yourself from the burden of those unrealistic goals


When the night comes, it will deliver
Even when things seem darkest, there is still hope for a brighter future


Through the darkness, your heart is gonna light the way
You will find your way towards a better tomorrow


Old man standing on a soap box
An older, wiser figure dispensing wisdom or advice


He's wearing wool socks
He's not dressed for the weather, signifying his devotion to his cause


On the hottest day all year
The conditions are unbearable, but he perseveres


Old man preachin' to the handful
He's addressing a small audience, but his message is important


With a head full
He's passionate about his beliefs


He says "the end is surely near"
He's warning of impending doom


Now, who among you even cares?
He's frustrated with a lack of interest or action from others


They're turnin' circles into squares
People are resisting change, even when it's desperately needed


And it says "hold on daddy, You've got one last choice
The same inner voice that Emma Rae heard is urging the old man to keep going


Light the way, light the way
Urging for hope and positivity to guide the way forward


Through the darkness, your heart is gonna light the way
You can find the strength within yourself to overcome difficult times


Light the way, oh light the way
Repeating the chorus to emphasize the importance of hope and positivity


Through the darkness, your heart is gonna light the way
Final reaffirmation of the message that hope and positivity are essential in times of difficulty




Contributed by Declan I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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