Keep a Light on for Me Brother--a Tribute to Ben

Rob has a gift. He has an outlet for expression which also helps in healing. I decided to post it on my blog because it’s so special and his brother Ben, was so special. We all miss him very much.

This is a tribute to Ben, Rob’s brother who passed away November 2007.
Written by my husband, Robert Rowland.

To set it up: “After Ben died, I noticed he had left his porch light on with every intention of being home later to turn it off. For some reason, I could not turn that light off and insisted it be left on. I knew it was symbolic somehow but I couldn't wrap my mind around it immediately. A tune started in my mind that week and has been echoing ever since. It went, "Keep a light on for me, brother. Keep a light on while I roam. Keep a light on for me, brother and help me find my way home." Needless to say- and you can ask Becky to verify- the hardest thing I had to do that week was to turn that porch light off after we locked up his trailer for the last time. Well, all that culminated into another song I wrote on the guitar and I've combined the lyrics from what I was feeling at Jekyll and the week he died.”

Keep a Light On
By R. L. Rowland

I hear you name
whispered in the trees.
I fight back the tears
drying on the breeze.
Walking through life
trying not to fail
but I am overwhelmed
and sink into my shell.


(Chorus)
Keep a light on for me, brother.

Keep a light on while I roam.
Keep a light on for me, brother,
and help me find my way home.

Tell me it gets better.
Say that it goes away:
This ever present emptiness
that mocks me while I pray.
Tell me I'll get stronger.
Say I'll stop breaking down.
How am I supposed to laugh
knowin' you're not comin' around?

(Chorus)

Bridge:
Teach me how to live.
Show me how to love.
Tell me why I should sing
and play and dance again
without you,
without you.

Keep a light on for me, brother.
Keep a light on while I roam.
Keep a light on for me, brother,
and help me find my way home.

I love you all,

Rob