I Love You More (Blood & Alabama Clay)

There’s an old screen door on a white wood frame,

Bible on the table with our family names,

Daddy Scott out working late,

Driving them backroads through another state.

He’d grin and say, “Boy, don’t forget—”

“Faith and family’s all you get.”

Then I’d laugh and shake my head,

“Daddy, I love you more,” I said.

Mama Allison in the kitchen light,

Singing old gospel songs every Friday night,

Sweet tea sweating in the summer heat,

Barefoot dancing on worn pine floors beneath our feet.

I’d holler “Mama, I love you more!”

She’d roll her eyes like a hundred times before,

But deep down we both knew,

That kind of love sees a lifetime through.

We were raised on Jesus, dust, and red clay roads,

Down in Cullman where the river winds slow,

On “yes ma’am,” “amen,” and old church pews,

Back porch praying with a country view.

And through every fight, every hard year,

This family held each other near,

Still arguing loud like southern folks do—

“Yeah, but I love you more than you.”

Dustin crawled through hell and back,

Now he’s burning steel with sparks that crack,

The good Lord grabbed him by the soul,

Turned broken pieces into whole.

And Nick’s out there in blue tonight,

Trying to keep this world upright,

Still my brother through thick and thin,

Like we’ve always been.

We’ve slammed doors and raised our voices,

Made some hard-headed southern choices,

But Sunday morning changes things,

When the whole church stands to sing.

Hands raised high beneath stained glass,

Thanking God for the love that lasts,

Cause blood runs deep, but grace runs deeper,

And the Lord’s still our keeper.

One day when these old roads end,

We’ll meet in heaven once again,

Mama singing with angel bands,

Daddy praising with lifted hands.

And Dustin smiling finally free,

Nick beside him watching over me,

No more pain, no more storms to weather,

Just all of us together.

We were raised on Jesus, dust, and Alabama clay,

Where love was loud but never walked away,

And if the good Lord calls tonight,

We’ll still be singing in heaven’s light.

So here’s to Allison, Scott, Dustin, Nick too,

This old country heart belongs to you,

And no matter where these roads may go…

I’ll still say…

“I love you more.”