[Verse 1]
Past midnight, I was low
By the feed-store fence
Saw your boots in the dust
And a face like spent incense
You said, "Sister, don't turn me out"
With blood on your cuff
I smelled rain on your skin
And the long road rough
[Pre-Chorus]
We all come here hungry
We all come here thin
With a hymn in our mouth
And a thorn in our skin
[Chorus]
Nocturnal beings, come in
Nocturnal beings, come in
Shelter under moon and rust
Mercy for the ones like us
Nocturnal beings, come in
Nocturnal beings, come in
Hunger keeps the door wide
Faith got smoke in its eyes
[Verse 2]
On the diner glass, your shadow shook
Like a prayer gone bad
I saw my mother's Bible
And the knife my daddy had
You said, "I only take what I need"
Then you looked away
Like prey and predator
Share the same long day
[Pre-Chorus]
The pearly gate is crooked
The porch light burns low
Every saint in this county
Knows the taste of the road
[Chorus]
Nocturnal beings, come in
Nocturnal beings, come in
Shelter under moon and rust
Mercy for the ones like us
Nocturnal beings, come in
Nocturnal beings, come in
Hunger keeps the door wide
Faith got smoke in its eyes
[Bridge]
If I lay down my anger
Will you lay down yours?
If I break bread in the dark
Will you still want more?
There's a hollow in my heartbeat
There's a nail in my song
But the night is full of kin
And the night's been alone too long
[Final Chorus]
Nocturnal beings, come in
Nocturnal beings, come in
Shelter under moon and rust
Mercy for the ones like us
Nocturnal beings, come in
Nocturnal beings, come in
Let the hungry cross the line
Let the hard-hearted change their mind