Lantern

Be the light in my lantern
The light in my lantern, be the light
Be the light in my lantern
The light in my lantern tonight

Be the light in my lantern
The light in my lantern, be the light
I need light in my lantern
Light in my lantern tonight

It’s a hungry world out there
Even the wind will take a bite
I can feel the world circlin'
Sniffin' round me in the night
And the lost sheep grow teeth
Forsake the lambs and lie with the lions

And the living is desperate
Precarious and mean
And getting by is so hard
That even the rocks are picked clean
And the bones of small contention
Are the only food the hungry find

I need light for my lantern
Light in my lantern tonight
Light in my lantern
Light in my lantern tonight

Where the thistles eat the thorns
And the roses have no chance
And they've no wonder that the babies
Come out crying in advance
And the children look for shelter
In the hollow of some lonesome cheek

And the sky’s so cold and clear
The stars might stick you where you stand
And you’re only glad it's dark cause
You might see the master’s hand
And you might cast around forever
And never find the peace you seek

I need light for my lantern
Light in my lantern tonight
Be the light in my lantern
The light in my lantern tonight

For every cry in the night
Somebody says, “Have faith”
“Be content inside your questions”
“Minotaurs inside a maze”
Tell me what’s the point of light
That you have to strike a match to find?

So throw away those lamentations
We both know them all too well
If there’s a Book of Jubilations
We’ll have to write it for ourselves
So come and lie beside me, darling
And let’s write it while we still got time

So if you got a light
Hold it high for me
I need it bad tonight
Hold it high for me
Cause I’m face to face
Hold it high for me
In a lonesome place
Hold it high for me
With all the hurt that I’ve done
Hold it high for me
That can’t be undone
Hold it high for me
Light and guide me through
Hold it high for me
I’ll do the same for you
And hold it high for me

I’ll hold it high for you
'Cause I know you’ve got
Hold it high for you
Your own valley to walk
I’ll hold it high for you
Though it’s dark as death
I’ll hold it high for you
And then gets darker yet
I’ll hold it high for you
Though your path seems lost
I’ll hold it high for you
Through the thieves and the rocks
I’ll hold it high for you
I keep you safe from harm
I’ll hold it high for you
Until you’re back in my arms

Be the light in my lantern
Light in my lantern tonight
Be the light in my lantern
The light in my lantern tonight
Be the light in my lantern
Light in my lantern tonight
Be the light in my lantern
Light in my lantern tonight