[Verse 1]
I learned my lessons where the floor gave way
Paid for tomorrow with the price of yesterday
Every hand that hurt me left a mark I can read
Now I know what I am, and I know what I need
[Pre-Chorus]
You can take the house, take the keys, take the name
I walked out of worse with a pocketful of flame
[Chorus]
I've been through hell, but hell didn't own me
I found a little life in the wreckage below me
Go on, try your best, there ain't much left to steal
I've got breath in my chest and a heart made of steel
I'm the judge of the road that I choose to roam
I learned to enjoy life, even far from home
[Verse 2]
Misery taught me the weight of a day
How to find a warm cup when the money ran away
I stopped waiting for mercy from a locked-up door
Started laughing at the devil when he came back for more
[Pre-Chorus]
Let the bitter ones talk, let the cold wind blow
I got scars for a map and somewhere to go
[Chorus]
I've been through hell, but hell didn't own me
I found a little life in the wreckage below me
Go on, try your best, there ain't much left to steal
I've got breath in my chest and a heart made of steel
I'm the judge of the road that I choose to roam
I learned to enjoy life, even far from home
[Bridge]
I won't call the pain a blessing
I won't dress the wounds in gold
But I can raise a glass to living
With these hands and this soul
[Guitar Solo]
[Final Chorus]
I've been through hell, and hell had to lose me
The worst of the world couldn't break or confuse me
Go on, try your best, I've got nothing to fear
I am still standing tall, and I'm still here
I'm the judge of the road that I choose to roam
I learned to enjoy life, even far from home
[Outro]
Let the hard years fade behind me
Let the morning find me free
There is more to life than sorrow
And this life belongs to me