Not like him

(Verse 1)

He’d crack a beer at the break of day

Boots on the floor, no words to say

Smoke in the air, anger in his chest

He called it “being tough,” but he never knew rest

Told me I was soft, told me I was weak

Said, “A man fights hard, and he don’t dare speak”

Handcuffed me out back to that apple tree

And beat the quit outta what was left of me

(Chorus)

I’ll bring love back to these mountains

Wash the hate out with the rain

Let the echoes of his anger

Fade like smoke down through the plains

I won’t raise my child in shadows

Won’t teach fear with my own hands

I’ll bring love back to these mountains

And be nothing like that man

(Verse 2)

He drank pride by the twelve-pack cold

Told lies so often, he thought them gold

Raised his voice more than he ever prayed

Made pain a legacy he passed down each day

I learned to duck before I learned to drive

To bury my hurt just to stay alive

But I ain’t his shadow, I broke that chain

And I’ll never teach through scars or shame

(Chorus)

I’ll bring love back to these mountains

Wash the hate out with the rain

Let the echoes of his anger

Fade like smoke down through the plains

I won’t raise my child in shadows

Won’t teach fear with my own hands

I’ll bring love back to these mountains

And be nothing like that man

(Bridge – slow, reflective)

Some nights I still hear his voice in the wind

Telling me I’ll break, like he always did

But I hold my boy close, let him feel my peace

In the love I give, I find my release

(Verse 3)

He beat a man bloody, left him for dead

Bragged about it drunk with a shake in his head

Never said sorry, never showed regret

But I wear that weight so my son forgets

I talk real soft, I hug real tight

I kneel and pray when I used to fight

His blood runs through me, but it stops right here

I’m planting roots in love, not fear

(Chorus)

I’ll bring love back to these mountains

Wash the hate out with the rain

Let the echoes of his anger

Fade like smoke down through the plains

I won’t raise my child in shadows

Won’t teach fear with my own hands

I’ll bring love back to these mountains

And be nothing like that man

(Verse 4 – final story beat)

Now the fireflies dance and the crickets sing

And my boy sleeps safe beneath angel wings

He don’t know the darkness I’ve come from

Only the warmth of the rising sun

He laughs out loud, ain’t scared of my name

’Cause I broke that cycle, I changed the game

Love lives again where pain once stood

I made this place into something good

(Final Chorus – emotional, full band sound)

I’ll bring love back to these mountains

Let forgiveness lead the way

Trade the thunder for still water

Let the past just drift away

There’s a light now in these hollers

Hope growing from this land

I’ll bring love back to these mountains

And be nothing like that man

(Outro – quiet, solo guitar)

Yeah, I’ll bring love back to these mountains…

And be nothing like that man.