Steel Toe Prayer

Verse 1
Alarm clock screaming ‘fore the sun comes up
Coffee’s black, hands already rough
Bills on the table, due dates close
Back’s still aching from the week before
Truck’s on E but I’m riding it out
Radio crackles with a worn-out sound
Steel toe boots by the front door wait
Like they know I ain’t got a choice today

Pre-Chorus
Yeah, it ain’t glory, it ain’t gold
It’s sweat and dust and getting old

Chorus
It’s a steel toe prayer on a gravel road
A broke down dream but I still got hope
Punch that clock, give it all I got
Even when it don’t give back a lot
Sun burns down, rain cuts cold
Hands stay cracked, never do what they’re told
Yeah, we bend, but we don’t break
Blue collar hearts just carry the weight

Verse 2
Boss man yelling ‘bout overtime
But that check still barely climbs
Union talk and promises made
Still feels like we’re underpaid
Kids at home need new school shoes
Wife says “we’ll make it,” but I see the truth
Every dollar’s got a name
And somehow I’m the one to blame

Pre-Chorus
Yeah, I wear every scar I earn
But the world don’t see, and it sure don’t learn

Chorus
It’s a steel toe prayer on a gravel road
A broke down dream but I still got hope
Punch that clock, give it all I got
Even when it don’t give back a lot
Sun burns down, rain cuts cold
Hands stay cracked, never do what they’re told
Yeah, we bend, but we don’t break
Blue collar hearts just carry the weight

Bridge
No headlines, no big parade
Just quiet pride in the life we made
From midnight shifts to early dawn
We keep this whole world moving on
Yeah, somebody’s gotta build these towns
Lay the pipe and hold it down
We might not shine, but we don’t quit
This country stands on the backs of this

Final Chorus
It’s a steel toe prayer on a gravel road
A worn out soul but I still got hope
Punch that clock, yeah, I’ll show up strong
Even when it feels all wrong
Sun burns down, rain cuts cold
But there’s fire in these work-worn bones
Yeah, we bend, but we don’t break
Blue collar hearts just carry the weight

Outro
So I’ll lace ‘em up and face the day
Ain’t no other way I was raised
Yeah, it’s hard—but it’s who I am
Just a working man… doing all I can

Modern country w/ gritty southern rock edge, Luke Combs & Jason Aldean vibes, raw vocals, steel guitar, heavy drums