The Caliche Prayer

Instrumental Intro]
(G) — (C) — (G) — (D) (Acoustic guitar with a slow, alternating bass-note strum)
Verse 1 (Low & Gravelly)
(G) The sun is peeking over the (C) cedar breaks
(G) Counting every single one of my (D) mistakes
(G) I’ve got a polished ring in a (C) velvet box
(G) And a heart that’s weary from the (D) hard-knock shocks
(G) I’m a "yes ma’am" man in a (C) "no thanks" town
(G) Just another cowboy let the (D) evening down.
Verse 2
My Ford’s been idling by the county line
Looking for a signal or a holy sign
But the radio’s static and the wind is high
Just me and the shadow of a buzzard’s fly
I’ve got plenty of room on this bench-seat leather
But I’m still just a man out-running the weather.
Chorus (Voice Raises Up)
(C) Oh Lord, I’m staring at a (G) vast and empty sky
(D) Give me just one whisper, don’t (G) let this well run dry
(C) Send a message on the wind, tell me (G) where I ought to go
(D) To find the girl who’s lookin’ for this (C) lonesome Texan (G) soul
(D) Show me where to look, Lord, 'cause I (C) can’t find her on my (G) own.
Verse 3 (Back to Low Rumble)
I went down to the dance hall in San Antone
Two-stepped with a ghost till I felt all alone
Watched the neon buzzing like a dying fly
While the pretty girls laughed and passed me by
It ain’t that I’m mean and it ain’t that I’m small
It’s just nobody’s looking for me at all.
Bridge (Build the Intensity)
(C) I’ve memorized the (D) map of every (G) county road
(C) Trying to find a (D) heart to share this (G) heavy load
(C) But the gravel just (D) grinds and the (G) tires just (Em) hum
(C) I’m starting to wonder if (D) she’s ever gonna come...
Chorus (Powerfully)
Oh Lord, I’m staring at a vast and empty sky
Give me just one whisper, don’t let this well run dry
Send a message on the wind, tell me where I ought to go
To find the girl who’s lookin’ for this lonesome Texan soul.
Verse 4 / Outro (Quiet & Fading)
(G) So I’ll head back west where the (C) caliche turns white
(G) And bury my pride in the (D) heat of the night
(G) I’ll keep the porch light on till the (C) bulb burns out
(G) In a house built of nothing but (D) silence and (G) doubt.
(Slow down on the final line—let the G chord ring out)

Outlaw Country/Texas Red Dirt Ballad
Low gravelly delivery on verses and a melodic cry on chorus