Broken Path, Long Road

[Verse 1]
Boots on gravel
Pocket full of pills
Moon hangin' sideways
World standin' still
I was headin' for the river
Where the black water groans
One more tired shadow
Walkin' hurt and alone
[Chorus]
But the path is broken
Still the road is long
You can lay down dyin'
Or you can drag that wrong along
He said
"Son
You’re cracked wide open
But you’re not yet gone
Yeah the path is broken
But the road
The road is long" (oh yeah)
[Verse 2]
Met a ragged old stranger
Half hid in the weeds
Smoke on his jacket
Dust on his knees
Said
"I know that bottle
I know that blade
I dug my own hole
Lay down in that grave"
[Chorus]
'Cause the path is broken
Still the road is long
You can curse your maker
Or you can fight to stay strong
He said
"Pain done chose you
Brother
Now choose where you belong
Yeah the path is broken
But the road
The road is long" (hey!)
[Bridge]
He grabbed my collar
Pulled me in close
"Don’t you feed that darkness
More than it’s owed
You ain't just your sorrow
You ain't just your shame
You walk one more mile
Call that mercy by name"
[Chorus]
Now the path is broken
Still the road is long
Got these busted footsteps
But they still move on
I was bound for the bottom
He turned my boots around
Yeah the path is broken
But this long
Long road is sound
Yeah the path is broken
But this long
Long road is sound (oh Lord)

Raw delta-to-Chicago blues hybrid: dusty slide guitar intro, stomped foot on wooden floor, then full band shuffle with harp and walking bass. Male vocals, rough and close-miked, bend into blue notes; chorus answers with call-and-response guitar licks. Bridge drops to just voice and slide before the band storms back for a gritty, hopeful outro., delta blues, blues, chicago blues