Verse 1
I come home with red clay on my boots
Dust in my lungs from a long hard day
Hands worn down, shirt soaked through
But you’re standin’ there in that doorway
Porch light burnin’ like mercy does
In a world that’ll leave a man in the dirt
Girl, I don’t deserve your trust
But I’m learnin’ what real love’s worth
Pre-Chorus
It ain’t roses once a year
It ain’t words I whisper soft
It’s dyin’ to myself right here
Pickin’ up my cross
Chorus
So I’m gonna love you
Like He loved the church
Lay my pride down in the dust and put you first
Through the fire, through the hurt
Till my last breath leaves this earth
I’m gonna love you
Like He loved the church
(Choir softly behind)
Gave Himself up…
Gave Himself up…
⸻
Verse 2
Bible open on the kitchen table
Coffee cold but the Spirit’s warm
Two knees down when the house ain’t stable
Ask the Lord to keep us strong
Love is patient, love is kind
That’s what Paul wrote long ago
It don’t envy, it don’t keep score
It don’t walk away when the wind blows
(1 Corinthians 13 woven in naturally)
Pre-Chorus
Be watchful, stand firm in faith
That’s the Word we’re standin’ on
Act like men, be strong in grace
But let all we do be done in love
Chorus
So I’m gonna love you
Like He loved the church
Wash your fears with steady hands and steady words
When I fail and when I fall
I’ll repent and give my all
I’m gonna love you
Like He loved the church
(Choir rises stronger)
Gave Himself up…
Gave Himself up…
For her…
⸻
Bridge (slow burn, organ swelling)
Husbands love your wives
Just as Christ loved the church
That ain’t a suggestion
That’s heaven’s holy Word
Greater love has no man than this
Than he lay his life down
So if it costs me everything
That’s the ground where I’ll be found
As for me and my house
We’re gonna serve the Lord
Built on a rock that don’t move
When the storm winds roar
(Choir harmonies building)
On Christ the solid rock we stand…
All other ground is sinking sand…
⸻
Final Chorus (big, gospel lift)
I’m gonna love you
Like He loved the church
With nail-scarred mercy and a servant’s heart at work
Through the years, through the scars
Underneath these southern stars
I’m gonna love you
Like He loved the church
(Choir full, call and response)
Gave Himself up…
For her…
Gave Himself up…
For her…
⸻
Outro (quiet, stripped back)
So when my hands are old and weak
And my work down here is through
May they say I loved You, Lord
By the way I loved her too.
TheWordwithTobie