Switchfoot - Hometown Christmas Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse 1: Bear Rinehart, Jon Foreman, & Judah Akers
Stoplights and the headlights
Are a festive red, green, and gold
Procrastinating shoppers
Caffinated against the cold
But there's nothing you can buy me
It's your hand I wanna hold
Pre-Chorus: Bear Rinehart
There's miles between brothers
Years between friends
We'll all be together again
Chorus: Bear Rinehart
'Cause you're not alone when
The porch lights are shining
It's your invitation to the love that's been waiting
Singin', "Child why don't you come on in"
It's a hometown Christmas
Verse 2: Bear Rinehart, Jon Foreman, & Judah Akers
The lights are on the houses
And the trees are brought inside
The parking spot at the local mall
Is the hardest thing to find
Yeah, but I'm pretty sure that the Christmas star
Was in my daughter's eyes last night
Pre-Chorus: Jon Foreman
Yeah 'cause there's miles between us
Years between friends
But we'll all be together again
Chorus: Jon Foreman
'Cause you're not alone when
Those porch lights are shining
It's your invitation to the love that's been waiting
One thing on my wishlist
It's a hometown Christmas, yeah
Bridge: All
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king
Hometown Christmas
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconcile
Hometown Christmas
Verse 3: Bear Rinehart, Jon Foreman, & Judah Akers
Grandma's singing Christmas songs
That none of us have ever heard
Us cousins we'd be playing up
Till dinner was served
But the feeling that comes back to me
Is hard to put into words
Pre-Chorus: Judah Akers
'Cause there's miles between lovers
Years between friends
But we'll all be together again
Chorus: Judah Akers
'Cause you're not alone when ('lone when)
The porch lights are shining (shining)
It's your invitation to a love that's been waiting
So child come on in
Chorus: Bear Rinehart
We're not alone when
The porch lights are shining
It's your invitation to a love that's been waiting
Singin', "Child won't you come on in"
It's a hometown Christmas
It's a hometown Christmas
(Outro: Jon Foreman & Judah Akers
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king
Video
Hometown Christmas
Meaning & Inspiration
On November 3, 2022, Switchfoot gifted us with "Hometown Christmas," a poignant reflection that delves far beyond the superficial tinsel and bustling crowds of the holiday season, anchoring its narrative in the profound truths of connection, belonging, and divine invitation. The song immediately sets a familiar scene of festive chaos—stoplights ablaze, determined shoppers navigating the cold—yet quickly pivots away from consumerism. The initial verses, delivered by the combined voices of Bear Rinehart, Jon Foreman, and Judah Akers, bypass the transactional nature of gift-giving with the tender declaration, "But there's nothing you can buy me / It's your hand I wanna hold." This sentiment beautifully echoes the scriptural wisdom found in passages like Matthew 6:19-21, which encourages us not to store up earthly treasures but to invest in what truly lasts, reminding us that genuine value lies not in material possessions but in authentic relationships. The lyrics further illustrate this contrast by pointing to the "Christmas star / Was in my daughter's eyes last night," capturing the pure, unadulterated wonder of a child—a wonder Jesus himself called us to emulate in Matthew 18:3 to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
The true heart of "Hometown Christmas" beats loudest in its pervasive theme of reunion and the powerful yearning for community. The recurring pre-chorus, "There's miles between brothers / Years between friends / We'll all be together again," resonates with a universal longing for reconnection. It speaks to the separations life often imposes, yet carries an unwavering hope for gathering. This desire for unity mirrors the biblical call to communal fellowship, as seen in Hebrews 10:24-25, which urges us to encourage one another and not neglect meeting together, fostering love and good deeds. The song suggests that at Christmas, this human yearning for togetherness is amplified, providing a sacred opportunity to bridge distances, both physical and emotional, and to experience the joy of shared presence. It’s a powerful testament to the design God has for us, to live in harmony, a concept beautifully articulated in Psalm 133:1: "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!"
The chorus serves as the song's most compelling spiritual invitation, painting an indelible image of God's welcoming love: "You're not alone when / The porch lights are shining / It's your invitation to the love that's been waiting / Singin', 'Child why don't you come on in'." This vibrant metaphor of a porch light, shining steadfastly, transforms from a mere festive decoration into a symbol of divine hospitality and unceasing love. It brings to mind Revelation 3:20, where Christ declares, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." The song's invitation, "Child why don't you come on in," evokes the tender, patient love of the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), always waiting, always ready to welcome us home with open arms. It reassures those who feel isolated or lost that they are known, seen, and deeply cherished, reflecting the very heart of the Gospel—that God’s love is always available, a constant beacon in a world that can often feel dark and distant. This message of unconditional acceptance is the essence of Christmas, reminding us that Emmanuel, "God with us," means we are never truly alone.
Crucially, the song’s bridge lifts the narrative from a purely sentimental reflection to an overt declaration of faith, weaving in lines from the timeless carol "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing": "Hark! the herald angels sing / Glory to the newborn king / Peace on earth and mercy mild / God and sinners reconcile." This explicit inclusion firmly grounds the "hometown Christmas" experience in the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, the very reason for the season. It connects the human yearning for peace and reconciliation to the divine act of reconciliation initiated by God through His Son. This direct scriptural reference, echoing Luke 2:14's angelic proclamation of "peace on earth to those on whom his favor rests," reminds us that the peace we seek in our relationships and communities stems from the ultimate peace offered through Christ's birth, death, and resurrection. It underscores 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, which states that "God reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation," suggesting that our pursuit of unity and love during the holidays is a tangible expression of God’s own redemptive work. "Hometown Christmas" therefore encourages us to embrace not just the nostalgia of family gatherings, but to remember the profound spiritual significance of Christmas as a moment when heaven intersected earth, offering eternal hope and an everlasting invitation to divine love.