(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.