Gravel Road to Glory

[Verse 1]
Steel door slam, chain on my waist
Orange on my back, shame on my face
Mama in the front row, hands on her mouth
Judge say “years,” my heart headed south
Letters from the block, ink full of lies
“Bro, we up now” but I saw the eyes
Half of ’em ghosts, half in a cell
Halfway to heaven, halfway to hell
[Chorus]
From a gravel road to glory, I ain’t goin’ back (no way)
Used to sleep with one eye open, duffel by the backdoor packed
Now I’m chasin’ my kids in the backyard sun
Used to run from the law, now I just run
From the old me, from that cold me
From the boy that thought that the street would hold me
Gravel road to glory, I’m still scarred, but I’m free
This time I’m who my babies need me to be
[Verse 2]
Came home thin, track marks fade
Phone full of numbers that I can’t save
Lil’ man taller, missed two grades
Daughter won’t hug me, eyes look away
Homie hit my line, say he got that pack
Said “I’m on the porch, and I like it like that”
Next week found out he ain’t wake up at all
Black suit, white roses on a church house wall
[Chorus]
From a gravel road to glory, I ain’t goin’ back (nah)
Used to hide my sins in a burnt-out shack
Now I’m prayin’ on the tailgate, kids laughin’ loud
Used to blend in with a crooked crowd
From the old me, from that cold me
From the boy that thought that the street would hold me
Gravel road to glory, I’m still scarred, but I’m free
This time I’m who my babies need me to be
[Bridge]
Got a face in the paper, still an open case
Couple small towns where I can’t show my face
But I got clean hands holdin’ little small hands
If I gotta keep runnin’, I’ll be runnin’ with them
[Chorus]
From a gravel road to glory, I ain’t goin’ back (no way)
Used to chase that high, now I chase their laugh
If the past come knockin’, it can wait on the porch
I’m inside readin’ bedtime, light from the porch
From the old me, from that cold me (yeah)
Laid that boy down by a roadside tree
Gravel road to glory, it’s a long, rough ride
But I finally picked my babies over my pride

rap, Gritty trap-country hybrid with male vocals; twangy slide guitar over dark, sparse 808 groove. Verses stay low and conversational with close-mic rasp; big, chantable hook opens up with stacked harmonies and roomy claps. Sub bass and muted banjo plucks in the pocket, then a bridge that strips to kick, snaps, and a cracked vocal before the final chorus hits harder, brighter, and hopeful., country