Crossroads and Candlelight

I walked the Delta highway, boots full o’ pain,

Dust on my shadow, and whiskey in my veins.

Lookin’ for a reason, Lord, I can’t explain—

Chasin’ somethin’ holy in a world gone insane.

Stopped by a juke joint where the air was thick,

Saw her dancin’ slow, eyes wild and slick.

She had a charm ’round her neck, bone-white and cold,

Whispered in tongues, said, “Boy, I know your soul.”

She said, “Life ain’t just livin’, it’s what you believe.

What you hold on to when your heart starts to grieve.

You can gamble with the devil or kneel in the light—

Every man meets his God at the end of the night.”

She touched my hand, I felt fire in my chest,

Like the spirits of the swamp wouldn’t let me rest.

I asked her name, she just smiled so slow,

Said, “Call me what you want, but I already know.”

We walked to the bayou, stars fallin’ like ash,

She lit a black candle, and time didn’t pass.

I heard my mama’s voice, and a church bell ring—

Said, “Son, come home, and lay down everything.”

She said, “Life ain’t just livin’, it’s what you believe.

What you carry in your heart when it’s time to leave.

You can dance with the shadows or step in the light—

Every soul finds the truth in the middle of the night.”

So I burned my past in the Delta flame,

Got baptized in sorrow and rose with a name.

Now I preach with a guitar, under southern skies,

Where the voodoo woman gave a blind man sight.

Now I sing, “Life ain’t just breathin’, it’s what you forgive.

What you give to the Lord with the time you live.

I once ran with demons, now I fight the good fight—

Found my soul at the crossroads…

By candlelight.”