Life and Death between my Teeth

learned to talk tough before I learned to pray

Learned how to win arguments, push good hearts away

I could cut a man deep with a half-spoken truth

Called it “just being honest,” but I knew what I’d do

I’ve lit up rooms and I’ve burned them down

With the same two lungs and the same old sound

Said words I can’t pull back once they’re flung

Yeah, I know real well the power of the tongue

Chorus

Words don’t bleed, but they sure leave scars

They follow you home, they linger in the dark

I’ve spoken death when I needed love

Pulled the trigger with pride and called it “just words”

Now I’m down on my knees where the broken belong

Trying to learn how to speak life

With the power of the tongue

Verse 2

I’ve seen my kids go quiet when I raised my voice

Saw fear in their eyes, still I called it my choice

Told myself I was tired, told myself I was right

But I was losing ground every night

At work I’d bark orders, leave silence behind

Men nodded their heads but checked out in their minds

Funny how respect dies slow and numb

Yeah, I paid my dues for the power of the tongue

Chorus

Words don’t bleed, but they sure leave scars

They poison the well, they harden hearts

I’ve spoken death when I needed love

Let my anger talk when I should’ve shut up

Now I’m down on my knees where the broken belong

Trying to learn how to speak life

With the power of the tongue

Bridge

The Good Book says life and death share a line

Right there between your teeth and your pride

I used to think silence meant losing the fight

Now I know silence can be doing what’s right

Verse 3

I’m learning to say sorry before it’s too late

Learning to hold back when anger takes aim

Learning to bless my house, not the storm

Talking to God before I talk anymore

Still stumble some days, still fight that fire

Still feel those words wanting to climb higher

But grace steps in when I’m overrun

He’s teaching me mercy through the power of the tongue

Final Chorus

Words don’t bleed, but they raise the dead

They lift a man up or bow his head

I’ve spoken death, now I’m done with that song

I want to be known for where I went wrong

If you’re hearing this and you’re barely holding on

Choose life, brother, choose love

With the power of the tongue

Outro

I’ve said too much, and I’ve said it wrong

But God ain’t finished with this voice yet

Not as long as there’s breath in my lungs.