[Intro – Hammond Organ, Choir Humming]
(organ swells, choir hums low)
“Mmmmmm…”
“Thank You, Jesus…”
(steel guitar cries; upright bass begins walking)
Daddy says, “Girl, you’ll never win…”
Then laughs, “Loved you longer than you’ve been livin’…”
(choir answers)
“She better try again!”
[Verse 1]
Down in Cullman, Alabama clay
Raised on hard work and Sunday praise
Daddy’s hands smelled like diesel smoke
Grease-stained jeans and hard-earned hope
Navy Seabee, tough as nails
Beat back cancer, walked through hell
Drove those eighteen wheels at night
Bible on the dash and his faith held tight
[Pre-Chorus – Call and Response]
We weren’t rich in money—
(choir: “But rich in grace!”)
Had scars on our hearts—
(choir: “But kept our faith!”)
Through every hard road
Every long mile
God held this family
The whole blessed while
[Chorus – Full Choir]
Raise your hands for my daddy tonight
Cancer survivor, still ready to fight
Seabee blood and a truck-stop soul
He carried this family down broken roads
My oldest brother came back from hell
Now welding sparks ring like church-house bells
God reached down when he lost his way
Now redemption shines where the darkness stayed
My other brother stands with a badge in hand
Protecting folks like a God-fearing man
He may be out west, but he knows in the end
He’s still my brother and my best friend
We’re loud, we’re rough, Southern raised
Red-dirt hearts full of amazing grace
If Heaven’s choir sounds anything like this
It’s country pain wrapped in a gospel kiss
[Verse 2 – Organ, Bass and Handclaps]
Mama cried and Daddy prayed
When my brother nearly slipped away
But God stepped in at the midnight hour
Turned that pain into testimony power
Now calloused hands strike steel each day
Living proof that God makes a way
And my brother underneath those lights
Still stands strong through the coldest nights
[Bridge – Church Breakdown]
(music drops to organ and handclaps)
Through hospital halls—
(choir: “He kept us!”)
Through empty wallets—
(choir: “He fed us!”)
Through tears at midnight—
(choir: “He heard us!”)
When we almost broke—
(choir: “He held us!”)
Grace showed up
Right on time
God kept His hand
On this family of mine
(choir rises)
“He never let go!”
“No, He never let go!”
[Final Chorus – Key Change]
Raise both hands for my daddy tonight
Cancer survivor, still built to fight
For my brothers who found their way
One through redemption, one serving each day
We’re loud, we’re rough, Southern raised
Red-dirt hearts full of amazing grace
We’ve been knocked down, but we still exist
Country pain wrapped in a gospel kiss
(lead vocal runs)
A gospel ki-i-i-iss…
Wrapped in mercy and amazing grace!
[Outro – Choir and Steel Guitar]
Daddy says, “Girl, you’ll never win…”
I smile and say, “Let’s start again…”
He’s loved me longer than I’ve been living
But loving him more is a fight I ain’t quitting
(choir softly repeats)
“Never let go…”
“Amazing grace…”
“A gospel kiss…”
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