[Introduction] (soft, low register) Mama bowed her head and used to say, “Lord, please keep our babies safe today.” Down that road where the streetlights sleep, Lived a girl we prayed God would reach. [Verse 1] (low, conversational) She was three houses down in a faded home, Learned to fight before she learned she wasn’t alone. She’d scare the kids waitin’ on the bus, Left chalk-drawn hearts crushed into dust. Always trouble, always blame, Every grown-up whispered her name. We told our girls, “Don’t cross that street,” Some hearts are hard… or so we believed. [Chorus] Don't judge someone by what is seen There's a chance they can be more than mean A mean girl grin and a look that scares Could be covering a heart that cares Give people a chance to show their heart Maybe they're just playing the wrong part [Verse 2] (builds slightly) That summer day the kids played free, Barefoot laughter in the street. I watched ‘em close from the porch swing chain, Thankin’ God for an ordinary day. Then tires screamed like a siren’s cry, Metal met fear, the world froze tight. I ran inside, fell to my knees, Afraid of what my eyes might see. [Pre-Chorus] (lift, held notes) They were cryin’, but they were whole, God had wrapped ‘em in His hold. No broken skin, just shaken faith, Then I saw who’d stood in the way. [Chorus] (soaring, emotional peak) It was the mean girl down the street, The last one I thought God would use to redeem. She stepped out brave into headlights bright, Gave her life so my child could live that night. Grace don’t always sound real sweet, Sometimes it breaks you at your feet. Heaven spoke through tragedy, Through the mean girl down the street. [Bridge] (intimate → power build) Maybe she heard Him call her name, In that breath between fear and faith. Maybe love was the only thing, She’d ever known enough to cling. The Word says love lays its life down, For someone else on holy ground. And in that moment, heaven knew, She finally believed it too. [Chorus] (full belt, optional harmony) It was the mean girl down the street, A lost soul found in eternity. She gave her life so a child could breathe, Left this world on her knees. Mercy fell where judgment used to be, Wrote her name in grace, not grief. God showed me who we’re called to be, Through the mean girl down the street. [Outro] (soft resolve, return to low register) Now when my girls kneel down at night, We thank God for mercy, not just right. ‘Cause He sees hearts we never meet… Just like the girl, Down the street.

The Mean Girl