Homeward Bound

[Intro] (Instrumental: Acoustic guitar strumming, gentle steel guitar licks, subtle banjo rolls, natural room reverb) [Verse 1] Miles of highway stretch behind me Dusty roads and fading light Every turn, a memory finds me Pullin' closer to what feels right Left the city's restless hurry Traded noise for open sky Got this old familiar worry Fadin' as the miles roll by [Chorus] Homeward bound, where the heart finds its ease Underneath the old oak trees Where the welcome light still softly gleams And peace flows gentle as the streams Homeward bound, to the comfort I know Where the warmest feelings grow Leavin' footprints on the porch again This weary journey finds its end [Verse 2] See the fence line, worn and weathered Smell the hayfields after rain All the burdens, light as feathers Fadin' with each passing lane Past the crossroads, past the station Past the sign that bears the name Feels like comin' home is salvation Burnin' like a quiet flame [Chorus] Homeward bound, where the heart finds its ease Underneath the old oak trees Where the welcome light still softly gleams And peace flows gentle as the streams Homeward bound, to the comfort I know Where the warmest feelings grow Leavin' footprints on the porch again This weary journey finds its end [Bridge] (Steel guitar solo over acoustic rhythm, gentle banjo fills) Here the walls hold whispered stories Here the kettle always sings Here's the end of all my worries Here's the peace that homeward brings [Chorus] Homeward bound, where the heart finds its ease Underneath the old oak trees Where the welcome light still softly gleams And peace flows gentle as the streams Homeward bound, to the comfort I know Where the warmest feelings grow Leavin' footprints on the porch again This weary journey finds its end [Outro] (Instrumental fade: Acoustic guitar strumming continues, steel guitar plays a final gentle melody, banjo provides light texture, close female harmony vocals hum wordlessly underneath, fading slowly with natural reverb)