Calloused Hands, Tender Heart

She was just a stranger standing in line.
A simple smile that stopped the hands of time.
With those stunning eyes, she broke through the dark.
Lit a fire in the ashes of my broken heart.

Me and old Fred rollin' down Highway 302,
Radio's hummin' them lonesome blues.
Every mile just rolls on the same,
Lookin' for love but don't know her name.

Pulled into an old mexican cafe on the outskirts of town,
Glass of ice tea in my hand, jukebox spinning 'round.
I caught that same smile, thought it might fade away,
But fate had its way of making me stay.

When I looked in her eyes, life seemed to stand still.
A quiet kind of magic, a fire I could feel.
I wondered if it was real, could it finally be true.
Or did I just want it so bad 'cause it was you?

Love don't always come easy, but somehow it found me here.
Her eyes tell a story my heart's been longing to hear.
I thought I'd lost it forever, but now I know love is still true.
Love came back to life the moment I seen you.

One smile was all it took to break through the night.
One glance in her eyes and the world felt right.

I'd been chasing shadows, living with regret,
Thought love was a story I'd already met.
But the moment I found you, the truth came alive,
The reason I kept on hoping to survive.

Love don't always come easy, but somehow it found me here.
Her eyes tell a story my heart's been longing to hear.
I thought I'd lost it forever, but now I know love is still true.
Love came back to life the moment I seen you.

I lived a good life, I lived my best days,
Made my share of mistakes, but I learned along the way.
For my daughter, I've watched her grow strong,
As beautiful as the sunrise that carries on and on.
I'm proud of the woman she's come to be,
She's a light in this world, and she means everything to me.

My son, I don't get to talk to him much,
But he's always on my mind, but far from my touch.
And for the others along the way, I pray they know,
They touched my heart more than I could ever show.
I hope when I'm gone, they'll smile when they think of me,
The good times we shared, and oh the memories.
My big sister's my rock, through the highs and the lows,
Without her by my side, Lord only knows

My heart's never stopped lovin' anyone,
When I gave you my love, it was forever and it's done.
Always remember the laughter, the tears,
The times we could count on each other through the years.
Family is stronger than blood from the start,
We were family… and you'll always be in my heart.

When my time comes and I'm called away,
I hope the memories linger and brighten your day.
Remember the good, remember the grace,
Remember the my love until it's time to replace.
And if you're ever lost, or fall apart,
Know I'm still with you, you're always in my heart.

My heart's never stopped lovin' anyone,
When I gave you my love, it was forever and it's done.
Always remember the laughter, the tears,
The times we could count on each other through the years.
Family is stronger than blood from the start,
We were family… and you'll always be in my heart.

Her smile lights the room like the break of dawn,
A soft glow that carries you when the world feels gone.
I've poured out my heart where the neon lights shine,
Fred's seen me fall more than a few times.
Every dream I've held, every tear I've cried,
Just reminds me she's gone and I'm still here tonight.

Oh, I love it when she smiles,
That light could carry me miles.
If she'd just turn back my way,
Her smile could chase these dark clouds away.

Days roll on like a west Texas breeze,
Some moments bring comfort, some bring me to my knees.
We held on tight through the hardest of times,
Two hearts tangled up, beating in rhyme.
But life has a way of pulling things apart,
Now I'm left here with silence and a worn-out heart.

Oh, I love it when she smiles,
That light could carry me miles.
If she'd just turn back my way,
Her smile could chase these dark clouds away.

Now it's me and Fred on this lonesome road,
Radio hummin', takin' on the load.
Every mile we travel, every line I sing,
Brings me back to her eyes and the joy they'd bring.

Oh, I love it when she smiles,
That light could carry me miles.
Yeah, I love it when she smiles,
Her smile could chase these dark clouds away.

Some nights the weight is heavier than I can bear,
Dreams feel distant, like nobody's there.
I hide my hurt behind this calloused skin,
But the cracks in my soul let the silence in.
I've walked through the fire, I've stumbled in the rain,
Carried these burdens with my share of pain.
The nights feel colder when the daylight ends,
But I know I'm not forsaken, I know I've got a friend.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted,
Psalm thirty-four, verse eighteen.
He saves the crushed in spirit when we've fallen,
He's my shelter, my song to sing.
When my hope feels lost in the shadows,
When I don't have the strength to believe,
I hold on to the promise unshaken,
That the Lord is close to me.

I've seen good men stumble, I've watched strong men cry,
I've shouldered my burdens with tears in my eyes.
Fred lays quiet when the night feels long,
But Your Word reminds me where I belong.
The world keeps turning, but I stand still,
Working this ground by Your mercy and will.
Through dust and fire, through trial and test,
You draw me near, Lord, and give me rest.

You are near — You never walk away,
You are hope — in the darkest days.
You are love — and Your mercy remains,
You are close when I call Your name.
You are peace — when the storm is loud,
You are strength — when I'm broken down.
You are truth that I cling to still,
You are faithful, and You always will.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted,
Psalm thirty-four, verse eighteen.
He saves the crushed in spirit when we've fallen,
He's my shelter, my song to sing.
When my hope feels lost in the shadows,
When I don't have the strength to believe,
I hold on to the promise unshaken,
That the Lord is close to me.
The Lord is close, He will never leave,
Psalm thirty-four, verse eighteen.

I sit alone with all my thoughts,
Wonderin' if I'll ever be good enough for love.
I've loved hard and I've been loved too,
Worked my hands raw, and I've wasted a few.

But the one thing I know, through and through,
Is my love runs deeper than a river ever knew.

My heart is cruel, it don't trust what it sees,
Only the feelings it keeps buried in me.
When I look in her eyes, I'm searchin' for proof,
I convince myself that I'm unlovable…
If only that were true.

My love is like no other, it loves hard, it loves long,
It was made for forever, it was born for a song.
But I'm a broken soul, waiting to be found,
Holdin' on to hope while my world spins 'round.
Even Fred knows my love runs true.

And if I could get out of my own way,
Maybe I'd believe what her heart has to say.

My heart is cruel, it don't trust what it sees,
Only the feelings it keeps buried in me.
When I look in her heart, I'm lookin' for truth,
I convince myself that I'm unlovable…
If only that were true.

'Cause deep down I know, I was made to love,
By the hands of heaven, by the grace above.
And if she can see me the way You do,
Then maybe I'll believe it's not too good to be true.

My heart is cruel, it don't trust what it sees,
Only the feelings it keeps buried in me.
I've been waiting so long for a love that's true,
I convince myself that I'm unlovable…
If only that were true.

I don't need the bright lights or the noise in the air,
The best part of living is knowing you're there.
Every day's brighter, every night feels right,
With you by my side, I don't need the lights.

You're there when the morning sun starts to rise,
You're there when the stars fill up the night skies.
In a crowd of a thousand, it's only your face,
Every moment's heaven wrapped up in your grace.
I don't need anything, I don't need anywhere,
Even when I'm stubborn, I'm still right here.

Barefoot in the kitchen with the radio low,
Or lost on a highway with nowhere to go.
Doesn't matter the place, it's always clear,
Heaven feels closer when I've got you near.

You're there when the morning sun starts to rise,
You're there when the stars fill up the night skies.
In a crowd of a thousand, it's only your face,
Every moment's heaven wrapped up in your grace.
I don't need anything, I don't need anywhere,
Even when I'm stubborn, I'm still right here.

I need you to call me sweet, so I can pretend I don't like it.
I need you to need only me, to see how perfect we can be.

Don't need the parties, don't need the crowd,
The quiet with you is the best sound.
If the world falls apart, I don't care,
As long as I turn and still see you there.

You're there when the morning sun starts to rise,
You're there when the stars fill up the night skies.
In a crowd of a thousand, it's only your face,
Every moment's heaven wrapped up in your grace.
I don't need anything, I don't need anywhere,
Even when I'm stubborn, I'm still right here.

Had a boy when I was young, before I found my way
Loved him through the distance, through the miles and days
Married too early, that chapter didn't stay
But then an angel came, turned my night into day
She was my daughter, my strength when I was weak
My best friend, my reason, the light I came to seek
At such a young age, she taught me to stand
Built me up stronger with her tiny hands

Yeah Year's later I found her, she turned out to be the Queen of my world,
She had her very own, a beautiful girl
I took her in as if she was mine
Loved her as deeply as blood ties bind

Why did I work life away out there in the dirt
Chasin' a future but blind to the hurt
Gave 'em my sweat, every dollar I made
But they don't see it my way
I can't buy back the memories I traded
Now it's me and old Fred in a house gone still
With a heart full of love and a lifetime to kill

I treated her like a Queen every day
But love slips quiet when you're miles away
Wanted better so bad I couldn't see
The best part of life was right there with me

If I could trade every barrel of oil, every night alone
For one firelit evening, for one warm home
I'd be holdin' 'em tight all through the night
But instead I got .. a house gone still.

Little Joshy's dancin', cold one in his hand,
Got Erin smilin' wide while he plays the fool of the band,
We're laughin' so hard, can't catch our breath,
These are the nights we won't forget.

Raise 'em up high, let the good times roll,
Stories and smiles fillin' heart and soul,
Cousins in the yard just singin' along,
Backyard memories in a country song.

Ronnie's tellin' stories, got us all leanin' in,
Tanna by his side with that sweet little grin,
Amy and Kara keep the laughter alive,
This family fire's what keeps us tied.

Fred's not here, but I know he'd stay
Lay by the fire till the break of day,
And even though it's party on Saturday,
It's church on Sunday, that's the Glover way.

Raise 'em up high, let the good times roll,
Stories and smiles fillin' heart and soul,
Cousins in the yard just singin' along,
Backyard memories in a country song.

I only do it for the work, that's the truth,
Been in the patch' since I was just a youth.
Gardendale ain't home, it's just where I stay,
While my daughter's in San Antone, — so far away.

I've got every reason to pack up and go,
But it's the oilfield money the only life I know.
Drillin' or production, plants or construction,
Jack of all trades — but I ain't done nothin'.
Too old to start over, too young to be through.
So I stick to the work — and that's what I do.

Completions and frac crews, I've run with 'em all.
From midnight call outs to plants standin' tall.
Fred's ridin' shotgun through this West Texas grind,
Can't trade it away for some city life.

Some nights I wonder if I'm just standin' still.
Livin' for a paycheck, not a single dream to fulfill.
But I'm anchored here, where the black gold runs.
Tied to the dirt, the dust, and the sun.

I've got every reason to pack up and go,
But oilfield money's the only life I know.
Drillin' or production, plants or construction,
Jack of all trades — but I ain't done nothin'.
Too old to start over, too young to be through,
So I stick to the work — and that's what I do.

I sit here alone, while the clock ticks on slow,
Dreamin' of a time, from so long ago.
Your laughter still lingers, like smoke in the air,
But I reach through the darkness, and you're not there.

I remember those nights when your touch felt so near,
Now I reach for your hand, but it just disappears.
Like a song that keeps playin', though the band moved along,
I'm haunted by the memory, of where we went wrong.

Oh time, you're my enemy, steady and true,
You've taken my heart and you've made me a fool.
I wait through the silence, where shadows still stay,
For the love I keep losin', day after day.

I gave you my soul, you begged me to stay,
But like petals in the wind, we drifted away.
Now scars mark the places where love used to shine,
And the pain keeps remindin' me you're no longer mine.

Oh time, you're my enemy, steady and slow,
Stealin' the love that I once used to know.
I sit in the quiet, where memories play,
And pray for tomorrow to take it away.

Each tick of the clock cuts deeper than before,
My heart is the only friend walkin' this floor.
Fred's by my side, layin' close at my feet,
The only one here keepin' rhythm with the beat.

I've loved hard and I've carried the pain,
But this heart can't see clear through the pouring rain.
The stars still shine but they don't shine for me,
I'm stuck in the silence where I used to be.

Oh, I'm a restless heart still searchin' for sound,
Tied to the shadows that keep hangin' 'round.
I look in her eyes and I see who I was,
But I'm scared of the truth and the cost of her love.

Her laughter drifts through my mind like a song,
But trust is a mountain I can't climb too long.
Each time I reach out, I just pull away,
Like smoke in the fire, I fade night to day.

If I could outrun the weight of my past,
I'd hold her close, make the moment last.
But these scars cut deeper than words can explain,
So I turn and I toss till the night fades again.

Oh, I'm a restless heart still searchin' for sound,
Tied to the shadows that keep hangin' 'round.
I look in her eyes and I see who I was,
But I'm scared of the truth and the cost of her love.