Back Road Baptism

engine hum, soft guitar riff

I woke up in a dead-end town, same old rust on the frame

Same old dreams I buried down, same weight on my name

Mama said, “Boy, you’re losin’ your fight”

I said, “Mama, I’m just tryin’ to survive tonight”

Empty cup on a full sink edge

Prayin’ for somethin’ I don’t quite get

Then I hit that gravel like a confession line

And I swear I left a version of me behind

Down a backroad where the pine trees pray

I found somethin’ I lost in the break of day

Mud on my boots but my soul came clean

Like a river runnin’ right through me

Yeah I was breakin’ down, now I’m breakin’ free

In a backroad baptism, it saved me from me

Beer cans lined up like bad advice

Every one of ‘em paid the price

Radio singin’ that worn-out truth

‘Bout runnin’ wild and losin’ your youth

And I laughed out loud for the first time in weeks

Like the road finally heard what I couldn’t speak

Those tail lights faded in the rearview sky

And I felt somethin’ heavy finally die

Down a backroad where the pine trees pray… (repeat)

Ain’t no church on that county map

But I felt heaven tap me back

Said “boy you’re done with the life you knew”

So I let the night wash through

Down a backroad where the pine trees pray… (repeat & build)

Yeah I went lookin’ for an exit sign…

Found redemption in a dotted line