Half Mile Up

[Verse 1]
Stopped by a red light
Slowed by the car in front of me
Muttering under my breath
Late again to where I need to be
Tap on the steering wheel
Talking tough like the world owes me
Heart racing, hands tight
All I see is the time on the screen
[Chorus]
Half mile up
Blue lights spinning in the rain
Tail lights twisted
On the wrong side of the lane
And I feel my anger
Turn to a trembling relief
Half mile up a fatal crash
Could’ve been me
If life hadn’t slowed me down
Right where I didn’t wanna be
[Verse 2]
Paramedics in yellow
Sheet pulled over someone’s dad
Phone ringing in my cup holder
Suddenly it doesn’t seem so bad
That unanswered text
That meeting I’m gonna miss
Feels so small, so silly
Next to the weight of this
[Chorus]
Half mile up
Blue lights spinning in the rain
Tail lights twisted
On the wrong side of the lane
And I feel my anger
Turn to a trembling relief
Half mile up a fatal crash
Could’ve been me
If life hadn’t slowed me down
Right where I didn’t wanna be
[Bridge]
How many times have I cursed the delay
Never knowing what it kept from my way
Maybe grace looks a lot like standing still
Like a long red light on a little back hill (oh)
[Chorus]
Half mile up
Blue lights fading in my mirror
I pull over
Say a prayer for every mirror
And I feel my heartbeat
Settle down, soft and clean
Half mile up a fatal crash
Could’ve been me
Thank God life slowed me down
Right where I didn’t wanna be

country, Slow-building modern country ballad with male vocals, brushed drums and warm pedal steel; starts sparse with acoustic guitar and soft piano, then swells in the chorus with harmony stacks and organ pads, easing back to an intimate ending, slow, light