"Leave a Light On (Talk Away the Dark)" is a song by American rock band Papa Roach. Originally released as a song on their 2022 album Ego Trip, it was released as a single on November 24, 2023, in collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for the Talk Away the Dark campaign.[1][2]
The band later released a second version of the song in collaboration with American country singer Carrie Underwood, which was released as a charity single on August 2, 2024.[3][4]
Speaking about the song and raising awareness of suicide and those who struggle internally, Shaddix expressed:
"This issue doesn't just affect one of us, or a few of us, it affects all of us. We're proud to work alongside the AFSP to support their mission to bring hope to those affected by suicide, and proud that this song – which has been special to us since it was first written – can play a part in bringing a little more light to an incredibly important topic".[6]
In 2024, the band reached out to Carrie Underwood, hoping her platform as a huge country star and a former American Idol winner would bring further awareness to the message of the song. Underwood, a huge fan of the band, accepted and provided vocals on the song at a studio in Nashville, Tennessee.[7] When Underwood was asked about her duet with the band on Good Morning America, she stated:
"It's a cause that is very near and dear to Papa Roach and to Jacoby Shaddix who is the main vocalist. When they asked me to come sing on this song, I loved the song and I loved their cause and they work a lot with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and they want to help people, and they want to use their life stories to help people."[8]
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 22. týden 2024 in the date selector. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
^"CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock"(select "Top 20 Modern Rock" into the search box, then select "202230"). hitparada.ifpicr.cz. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
