The Unknowns

Inspired by Military families at home living with uncertainty — the stress, anxiety, and daily unknowns of having loved ones deployed to the Iran war. Lines like "The TV's on but muted, that's my only rule" ground it in specifics. The lo-fi production gives it a distinct character. The mood: anxious, contemplative, waiting.

[verse 1] The phone sits on the counter face up all day long Every notification hits me like a song Is it him or is it nothing, is it news or is it spam I don't know which one is worse, I just hold the phone in hand The coffee's getting cold again, the kids are off to school The TV's on but muted, that's my only rule [chorus] Living in the unknowns, the unknowns Waiting for a message, waiting by the phone Living in the unknowns, the unknowns Every knock could be the one that brings you home Or the one that brings a stone [verse 2] The neighbors brought a casserole, they don't know what to say The support group meets on Wednesdays at the church on Maple Way The nineteen-year-old sailor from New York just shipped today His mama's making dinner like it's just another day But her hands are shaking and her eyes are on the door She's been through this before but never been at war [chorus] Living in the unknowns, the unknowns Waiting for a message, waiting by the phone Living in the unknowns, the unknowns Every knock could be the one that brings you home Or the one that brings a stone [bridge] I keep the porch light on I keep the porch light on I keep the porch light on for you [chorus] Living in the unknowns, the unknowns Waiting for a message, waiting by the phone Living in the unknowns, the unknowns Every knock could be the one that brings you home