My Father's Hands

Intro

Fingerpicked acoustic guitar, quiet room

Verse 1

Found his old lighter in a coffee canStill smells like diesel and a Sunday afternoonHe never said "I love you," he just fixed the truckAnd left before the dishes, left before the moon

Pre-Chorus

And I swore I'd be the other kind of manSwore it on a stack of his unopened mail

Chorus

But I got my father's handsCalloused where the good intentions goI got my father's handsHolding on too tight, then letting goI can build you a house, I can break down a doorI just never learned what the other one's forLord, I'm trying to understandWhat to do with my father's hands

Verse 2

My baby girl's asleep across my chestHer whole hand wrapped around one finger of mineThere's a scar on my knuckle from a wall in '09The only thing I ever won in a fight

Pre-Chorus

And she don't know yet what these hands have doneShe just knows they're warm, she just knows they're home

Chorus

'Cause I got my father's handsCalloused where the good intentions goI got my father's handsHolding on too tight, then letting goI can build you a house, I can break down a doorI just never learned what the other one's forLord, I'm trying to understandWhat to do with my father's hands

Bridge

Build, gospel choir enters

So teach me, teach meHow to hold something softHow to fix it without breaking itHow to stay when I want to be goneTeach me, teach me

Final Chorus

Full band, choir, voice breaking open

I got my father's handsBut they don't have to do what his hands didI got my father's handsAnd I'm gonna use them to raise this kidI can build you a house, I won't break down the doorFinally learning what the other one's forLord, I'm starting to understandWhat to do with my father's hands

Outro

Just voice and guitar

Found his old lighter in a coffee canI think I'll leave it there