Harry Chapin - You Own the Only Light

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I listen to the wind girl
As you sleep by my side
The weather's getting colder
So much harder now to hide

I confess I'm worried girl
Cause as we fill up our days
For all the dreams we said we'd live
We watch them slip away

So I hold you like an anchor
I hold you in the night
You're all that I can count on
You own the only light

And I hold you like an answer
The only one that's right
For when I'm lost in darkness
You own the only light

You see I think we know we're loosing it
That easy dream is gone
Like everyone we fool ourselves
And say we're holding on

But I know I can't return again
You never can go home
Though with you here I still am lost
At least I'm not alone

And I hold you like an anchor
I hold you in the night
You're all that I can count on
You own the only light

And I hold you like an answer
The only one that's right
For when I'm lost in darkness
You own the only light

Oh don't you ever take away your light
Don't you ever leave me with your light
Don't you ever take away your light
Or else never let there be another night

We traveled hard to get here girl
But now our traveling's done
And of all the answers I have found
You're the only solid one

And I'm frightened how I need you now
But I can't wall in my heart
And with you is how I hope to end
And with you now I start

And I hold you like an anchor
I hold you in the night
You're all that I can count on
You own the only light

Yes I hold you like an answer
The only one that's right
For when I'm lost in darkness
You own the only light

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Harry Chapin (December 7, 1942 – July 16, 1981) was an American singer-songwriter whose legacy is built not only on his unique style of folk music, but also on the vast humanitarian influence he had.

Chapin was born in New York, New York. He later joined the Brooklyn Boys Choir where he met John Wallace (“Big” John Wallace on stage), who would be his collaborator throughout his entire career. As a teenager, Chapin played the trumpet before moving to the guitar. He often played music with his brothers, Tom and Steve, who like Wallace would become his future bandmates.

After high school, Chapin did a brief stint at the United States Air Force Academy – later alluded to in his hit song, “Taxi” – and tried to get into the documentary film scene, directing Legendary Champions in 1968. However, in 1971, he turned his focus fully to music.

His first solo album was Heads and Tales, which featured “Taxi.” Afterwards, both Elektra Records and Columbia wanted to sign Harry to their label, with Elektra winning out by giving Chapin the largest new artist recording contract in history.

Chapin released Sniper and Other Love Songs in 1972 and Short Stories in 1973 to less acclaim than his first album. It was his fourth album, however, Verities and Balderdash, that spawned his biggest song and only #1 hit, the wistfully ironic “Cat’s in the Cradle.”

As shown in his youth, he continued to explore other show business avenues. He wrote a musical called The Night That Made America Famous, based on the song of the same name, and the music for the show Cotton Patch Gospel. He served on the board of many Long Island arts associations, including the Long Island Philharmonic. He also continued to release albums, although none received the fame that “Cats in the Cradle” did.

In 1975, Chapin and radio host Bill Ayres founded World Hunger Year (now WhyHunger). Many of his concerts from that point on were benefit concerts, supporting WHY as well as other causes. He often did over 200 concerts a year. He also fought for hunger outside of his musical career, lobbying in Washington D.C. and serving on various committees.

In 1981, Chapin was driving on the Long Island Expressway when he put his hazard lights on for unknown reasons. He then swerved across two lanes before ending up in front of a tractor-trailer. The truck hit the back of his car, causing the fuel tank to explode. However, once at the hospital, his cause of death was determined to be cardiac arrest; whether it occurred before or after the crash is unknown.

Chapin’s legacy as a humanitarian grew after his death. Ken Kragen, Chapin’s manager in the years after the creation of WHY, organized USA for Africa and Hands Across America. The Harry Chapin Award is given to those who fight against hunger, and the Harry Chapin Memorial Run/Walk Against Hunger is held in Croton-on-Hudson annually. His widow, Sandy, runs the Harry Chapin Foundation, which raises money for charity and community programs around the United States.

On December 7, 1987, Chapin was honored posthumously for his philanthropic work with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor Congress gives.