Porch Light lyrics Noah Kahan
Original Lyrics
English
[Intro]
Mm, mm-mm
[Verse 1]
I would ask you how you've been, it's all over the internet
But, hey, I mean, you knew that after all
If you're looking for an autopsy or a half-assed half-apology
Then I think you picked the wrong time to make this call
It is not irrelevant that you stopped taking your medicine
But I'm giving you the benefit 'cause it's raining out
I'll tell you how the weather is
And you'll slip into some eloquently ramblin' mixed-messaging
I should shut you down
[Refrain]
But it's cold, and it's cold, and it's cold, and it's cold, and it’s cold
And I don't know, I'm alone, I'm alone, I'm alone, I'm alone
[Verse 2]
I hope you tell me that you're winding down
That you lost thе taste to face the crowd
That whatеver made you famous made you sick
That you can only do what pain allows
It ain't up to you to make it out
And there ain't no shame in callin' this thing quits
[Refrain]
But you don't, and you don't, what you don't, and you don't, and you don't
You're a ghost, you're a ghost, you're a ghost, you're a ghost, and you're—
[Chorus]
Poison spreading to my lungs
I ain't holdin' breath, ain't holdin' any faith at all
And I'll pray for you, be in pain for you
I'll leave the porch light on
Heartbroken, each morning when it's me that turns it off
[Post-Chorus]
So it goes, so it goes, so it goes
[Verse 3]
You act like we just sit up here and wait for you to reappear
But, baby, there are bills to pay and your dad's road needs salt
And I try to drown out all the talk, the eyeballs in the parking lot
And tell people it ain't me you want, but I guess you're my fault
[Refrain]
You're a ghost, you're a ghost, you're a ghost, you're a ghost, you're a ghost
And I choke, and I choke, and I choke, and I choke on the—
[Chorus]
Poison spreading to my lungs
I ain't holdin' breath, ain't holdin' any faith at all
And I'll pray for you, be in pain for you
I'll leave the porch light on
Heartbroken, each morning when it's me that turns it off
[Post-Chorus]
So it goes, so it goes, so it goes
[Bridge]
Ooh-oh
[Chorus]
Poison spreading to my lungs
I ain't holdin' breath, ain't holdin' any faith at all
And I'll pray for you, be in pain for you
I'll leave the porch light on
Heartbroken, each morning when it's me that turns it off
[Post-Chorus]
So it goes, so it goes, so it goes
Mm, mm-mm
[Verse 1]
I would ask you how you've been, it's all over the internet
But, hey, I mean, you knew that after all
If you're looking for an autopsy or a half-assed half-apology
Then I think you picked the wrong time to make this call
It is not irrelevant that you stopped taking your medicine
But I'm giving you the benefit 'cause it's raining out
I'll tell you how the weather is
And you'll slip into some eloquently ramblin' mixed-messaging
I should shut you down
[Refrain]
But it's cold, and it's cold, and it's cold, and it's cold, and it’s cold
And I don't know, I'm alone, I'm alone, I'm alone, I'm alone
[Verse 2]
I hope you tell me that you're winding down
That you lost thе taste to face the crowd
That whatеver made you famous made you sick
That you can only do what pain allows
It ain't up to you to make it out
And there ain't no shame in callin' this thing quits
[Refrain]
But you don't, and you don't, what you don't, and you don't, and you don't
You're a ghost, you're a ghost, you're a ghost, you're a ghost, and you're—
[Chorus]
Poison spreading to my lungs
I ain't holdin' breath, ain't holdin' any faith at all
And I'll pray for you, be in pain for you
I'll leave the porch light on
Heartbroken, each morning when it's me that turns it off
[Post-Chorus]
So it goes, so it goes, so it goes
[Verse 3]
You act like we just sit up here and wait for you to reappear
But, baby, there are bills to pay and your dad's road needs salt
And I try to drown out all the talk, the eyeballs in the parking lot
And tell people it ain't me you want, but I guess you're my fault
[Refrain]
You're a ghost, you're a ghost, you're a ghost, you're a ghost, you're a ghost
And I choke, and I choke, and I choke, and I choke on the—
[Chorus]
Poison spreading to my lungs
I ain't holdin' breath, ain't holdin' any faith at all
And I'll pray for you, be in pain for you
I'll leave the porch light on
Heartbroken, each morning when it's me that turns it off
[Post-Chorus]
So it goes, so it goes, so it goes
[Bridge]
Ooh-oh
[Chorus]
Poison spreading to my lungs
I ain't holdin' breath, ain't holdin' any faith at all
And I'll pray for you, be in pain for you
I'll leave the porch light on
Heartbroken, each morning when it's me that turns it off
[Post-Chorus]
So it goes, so it goes, so it goes
Translation
Normal
[Intro]
Mm, mm-mm
[Verso 1]
Te preguntaría cómo estás, está por todo internet
Pero, hey, quiero decir, tú ya lo sabías después de todo
Si buscas una autopsia o una media disculpa
Creo que elegiste el momento equivocado para llamar
No es irrelevante que dejaste tu medicina
Pero te doy el beneficio porque está lloviendo
Te diré cómo está el clima
Y caerás en un discurso elocuente y confuso
Debería cortarte
[Estribillo]
Pero hace frío, y frío, y frío, y frío, y frío
Y no sé, estoy solo, solo, solo, solo, solo
[Verso 2]
Espero que me digas que estás terminando
Que perdiste el gusto por enfrentar a la multitud
Que lo que te hizo famoso te enfermó
Que solo puedes hacer lo que el dolor permite
No depende de ti salir de esto
Y no hay vergüenza en rendirte
[Estribillo]
Pero no lo haces, y no, y no, y no, y no
Eres un fantasma, fantasma, fantasma, fantasma, y eres—
[Coro]
Veneno extendiéndose en mis pulmones
No aguanto la respiración, no tengo fe alguna
Y rezaré por ti, sufriré por ti
Dejaré la luz del porche encendida
Con el corazón roto, cada mañana cuando soy yo quien la apaga
[Post-Coro]
Así es, así es, así es
[Verso 3]
Actúas como si aquí esperáramos tu regreso
Pero, cariño, hay cuentas que pagar y el camino de tu padre necesita sal
Intento ahogar los comentarios, las miradas en el estacionamiento
Y decirle a la gente que no soy yo a quien quieres, pero supongo que soy tu culpa
[Estribillo]
Eres un fantasma, fantasma, fantasma, fantasma, fantasma
Y me ahogo, y me ahogo, y me ahogo, y me ahogo en el—
[Coro]
Veneno extendiéndose en mis pulmones
No aguanto la respiración, no tengo fe alguna
Y rezaré por ti, sufriré por ti
Dejaré la luz del porche encendida
Con el corazón roto, cada mañana cuando soy yo quien la apaga
[Post-Coro]
Así es, así es, así es
[Puente]
Ooh-oh
[Coro]
Veneno extendiéndose en mis pulmones
No aguanto la respiración, no tengo fe alguna
Y rezaré por ti, sufriré por ti
Dejaré la luz del porche encendida
Con el corazón roto, cada mañana cuando soy yo quien la apaga
[Post-Coro]
Así es, así es, así es
Mm, mm-mm
[Verso 1]
Te preguntaría cómo estás, está por todo internet
Pero, hey, quiero decir, tú ya lo sabías después de todo
Si buscas una autopsia o una media disculpa
Creo que elegiste el momento equivocado para llamar
No es irrelevante que dejaste tu medicina
Pero te doy el beneficio porque está lloviendo
Te diré cómo está el clima
Y caerás en un discurso elocuente y confuso
Debería cortarte
[Estribillo]
Pero hace frío, y frío, y frío, y frío, y frío
Y no sé, estoy solo, solo, solo, solo, solo
[Verso 2]
Espero que me digas que estás terminando
Que perdiste el gusto por enfrentar a la multitud
Que lo que te hizo famoso te enfermó
Que solo puedes hacer lo que el dolor permite
No depende de ti salir de esto
Y no hay vergüenza en rendirte
[Estribillo]
Pero no lo haces, y no, y no, y no, y no
Eres un fantasma, fantasma, fantasma, fantasma, y eres—
[Coro]
Veneno extendiéndose en mis pulmones
No aguanto la respiración, no tengo fe alguna
Y rezaré por ti, sufriré por ti
Dejaré la luz del porche encendida
Con el corazón roto, cada mañana cuando soy yo quien la apaga
[Post-Coro]
Así es, así es, así es
[Verso 3]
Actúas como si aquí esperáramos tu regreso
Pero, cariño, hay cuentas que pagar y el camino de tu padre necesita sal
Intento ahogar los comentarios, las miradas en el estacionamiento
Y decirle a la gente que no soy yo a quien quieres, pero supongo que soy tu culpa
[Estribillo]
Eres un fantasma, fantasma, fantasma, fantasma, fantasma
Y me ahogo, y me ahogo, y me ahogo, y me ahogo en el—
[Coro]
Veneno extendiéndose en mis pulmones
No aguanto la respiración, no tengo fe alguna
Y rezaré por ti, sufriré por ti
Dejaré la luz del porche encendida
Con el corazón roto, cada mañana cuando soy yo quien la apaga
[Post-Coro]
Así es, así es, así es
[Puente]
Ooh-oh
[Coro]
Veneno extendiéndose en mis pulmones
No aguanto la respiración, no tengo fe alguna
Y rezaré por ti, sufriré por ti
Dejaré la luz del porche encendida
Con el corazón roto, cada mañana cuando soy yo quien la apaga
[Post-Coro]
Así es, así es, así es
Meaning & Explanation
Noah Kahan's 'Porch Light' is a raw exploration of toxic relationships and the emotional toll of loving someone struggling with mental health and fame. The song's central metaphor of leaving the porch light on symbolizes futile hope - the narrator keeps a light burning for someone who may never return, only to face daily heartbreak when they don't. Kahan masterfully captures the duality of care and resentment through vivid imagery like 'poison spreading to my lungs,' representing how love can simultaneously sustain and destroy. The repeated refrains ('it's cold, I'm alone') create a haunting rhythm mirroring the cyclical nature of such relationships. What makes this song particularly powerful is its nuanced portrayal of boundaries - the narrator recognizes the toxicity ('I should shut you down') yet remains emotionally entangled. The reference to stopped medication suggests the song may address bipolar disorder or depression, adding depth to its mental health commentary. Kahan's lyrical genius shines in lines like 'whatever made you famous made you sick,' critiquing how success can exacerbate personal struggles. The porch light becomes a powerful symbol of unconditional love with conditions - the narrator keeps it on out of care, but the daily act of turning it off represents painful acceptance. This resonates deeply with listeners navigating similar relationships, offering both catharsis and validation. Musically, the folk instrumentation underscores the song's intimate, confessional nature, making the emotional weight even more palpable.
[Note: This explanation provides key insights into the song's themes and emotions.]
[Note: This explanation provides key insights into the song's themes and emotions.]
