Burning Up The Midnight

We found three old lanterns
In your grandma's leaning shed
One still smelled like summer
One was full of spider webs
You said
Pick your favorite
Like we were choosing lives
I grabbed the rusted silver
You took the one that still shined

Leftover lanterns
Hanging from your porch string
Lighting up the splinters
Where we carved our small dreams
We were leftover lanterns
Flickering for free
Burning up the midnight
Till the morning took the wick from you and me

We painted the glass blue
Just to fake a different sky
Watched the moths go crazy
For a glow that couldn't last the night
You talked about leaving
Like you'd talk about the rain
Always sort of coming
Never saying when

Leftover lanterns
Hanging from your porch string
Lighting up the splinters
Where we carved our small dreams
We were leftover lanterns
Flickering for free
Burning up the midnight
Till the morning took the wick from you and me

Years pass
They passed this house
But your dad left one light on
Faint stain on the siding
Little halos on the lawn (oh)
I park there some evenings
Just to see what still remains
One last stubborn lantern
And the shadow of your name

Leftover lanterns
Hanging from your porch string
Lighting up the splinters
Where we carved our small dreams
We were leftover lanterns
Flickering for free
Burning up the midnight
Till the morning took the wick from you and me