The Road That Leads Home - Lyric Video - Jimmie Bratcher

(2023 (c) & (p) Ain't Skeert Tunes - Eric Stark & Jimmie Bratcher

Under a bridge on I-5 in Northern California, the 16-year-old sleeps. He’s looking for something and has no idea what it is. He’s left the warmth and provision of home and wanders, hoping to find whatever will fulfill the desires of his restless heart. That 16-year-old was me.

I grew up in a wonderful home with loving parents and two older sisters. Yes, I am the baby and yes, I am the spoiled one. Growing up I had little respect for anything in my life, including our loving family. I thought I knew everything about everything when I knew nothing at all. It would take decades before I came to know the riches that were there in our home on 309 Grant Street in Liberty, Missouri, that I walked away from. Once I learned what I was really looking for, home would be what I longed for most.

I know that many of us can’t go back home, yet we long for home in our hearts and I guess we will always carry those longings. Since we can’t go back, what can we do? My answer is this: I can create in my home NOW all of the love I felt in our home so long ago. I can create a home with the same atmosphere of love and safety that I felt at 309 Grant Street, and so can you!

Eric:
This one is a special one for us. We were having one of our weekly writing sessions and Jimmie said he had an idea for a song called “I Think I’ll Go Back Home” from the prodigal son story found in Luke chapter 15. At first, I was hesitant because I had already written a song using the parable as a framework. Jimmie said he wanted a song from the point of view of the younger son looking back and longing for the life he had in his father’s house. When we were finished with our session, I started thinking about what might be going through the mind of the young man remembering the love he knew but now felt he had lost. As I began ruminating on these thoughts, a song began to take shape. I knew a few facts about Jimmie’s younger days and tried to work them in so he could feel attached to the song. I contacted Jimmie and told him I may have a direction. He told me to go for it, so I wrote the song and recorded a demo so he could see what he thought. I was pleased when he said he liked it and wanted to put it on the record.

One thing I do want to say is that I realize for many, looking back at their earlier days is a painful experience. I was fortunate enough to have had a wonderful, loving family and many great friends growing up. For me, looking back at the days in my father’s house elicits warm, happy memories. I understand how lucky I am and feel for those who didn’t have the experience I had. Looking back may be the last thing someone might want to do. This song is written from the perspective of the Prodigal Son and prodigals like Jimmie and myself.

Luke 15:17-18 NLT – When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home, even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you.”