Untitled

(Raw Outlaw Country for My Dad)

Verse 1

My old man J.L., built outta scars and time,

Life hit hard, left cracks in his spine,

Mama fire-hearted, your daddy gone cold,

Then I came along in that story untold.

You were just a kid carryin’ too much weight,

So we landed at Alma’s tryin’ to set it straight,

You did your time, tried to bury the truth,

But I knew, Dokie Man… I knew.

⸻

Chorus

I see you, Dad — through the smoke and pain,

Through every loss and every chain,

Through every mile you barely survived,

I know damn well how hard you tried.

Country soul, outlaw mind,

Raised on struggle, rough and blind,

And no matter how the road turned wild,

I’ll always love you — your broken child.

⸻

Verse 2

You taught me how to fight back, how to stand tall,

Body slamming thieves against the wall,

Showed me stick shift on a busted lane,

Said, “Boy, this world don’t give, it takes and breaks.”

You’d laugh about women, proving your bets,

Camaro dreams and reckless debts,

Wrecked that truck like you owned the night,

Hell of a life, hell of a fight.

⸻

Chorus

I see you, Dad — in the dust and grime,

In every hard-earned crooked line,

You weren’t perfect, hell neither was I,

But I saw your heart behind your pride.

You walked through fire barefoot and mean,

Taught me things I’ve never forgotten, seen,

And I carry your name like a loaded gun,

Still your son when all is done.

⸻

Verse 3

You cheered when I wore that badge and green,

Proud of the soldier I’d become, I seen,

But there’s ghosts I fight you never knew,

From war and nights I barely made through.

But it cut deep when I needed your voice,

In basic I prayed, waited, had no choice,

And your silence hit harder than any drill,

Left me fighting shadows on that hill.

Your harsh words carved into my chest,

But they shaped the man who survived the test,

And though it hurt like a slow-burning flame,

I forgive you, Dad… I ain’t here to blame.

Still I carry your stubborn, rough-ass ways,

Through lonely nights and broken days.

⸻

Bridge

I ain’t angry, just worn and tired,

Tryin’ to heal what life wired,

But even when the distance grew,

Your blood still beat through everything I do.

Pain made steel, scars made man,

Life ain’t easy — I understand,

And every time I curse your name,

I remember where I came.

⸻

Final Chorus

Yeah I see you, Dad — every line and scar,

Every dim light, every broken bar,

The boy you tried to raise alone,

In a world cold as stone.

I love you through the hurt and shame,

Through whiskey nights and quiet pain,

Through all the miles and years between,

You’re still my blood… always been.

⸻

Outro (spoken, raw drawl)

You weren’t easy…

And neither was I.

But you were my father.

And I’m your son.

No matter the past…

No matter the miles…

I love you, Dad.

— Lee Michael