[Intro 4] [Hand-wrap rip, serrated bass and one low guitar pulse] [Knuckle taps form an uneven rhythm] [Close sung lead] My son came home With somebody else’s blood On his sleeve [Verse 1 12] [Hard drums lurch in 7/8 grouped 3+2+2] My son came through the doorway With his right hand swelling fast Said, “A kid had Eli cornered I stepped in and pulled him back” I asked, “Did you keep him safe?” He said, “Yeah, I made him pay” That second answer sounded like The house where I was raised He stood there waiting for me To tell him he had done right I saw fear behind the pride And my father in his eyes [Pre-Chorus 4] [Drums withdraw; fist-clench rhythm tightens] I taught him not to stand there When somebody needs defense I hadn’t taught him where protection ends And punishment begins [Chorus 8] [Massive 4/4 half-time; band stops land on the title] Be strong enough to stop When the danger isn’t danger anymore Strong enough to open What you learned to make a fist for Stand between the hurting And the people that you love But when anger takes the wheel Be strong enough to stop [Verse 2 12] [Return to 7/8; distorted inherited voice shadows selected words] My father called a bruise respect Called mercy being scared Taught me every room had one man Who should know that I was there He could put a grown man down With one clean shot across the mouth But he couldn’t put his anger down When we were in the house I learned how to end a fistfight I learned never to back off Took me years to understand Strength ain’t measured by the cost [Pre-Chorus 4] [Bass distorts; knuckle taps grow more rigid] I don’t want to make him harmless This world ain’t harmless too I need him to know the difference Between protection And proof [Chorus 8] [Heavier guitars; strained self-vocals gather beneath the lead] Be strong enough to stop When the danger isn’t danger anymore Strong enough to open What you learned to make a fist for Stand between the hurting And the people that you love But when anger takes the wheel Be strong enough to stop [Break 4] [Knuckle taps and hand-wrap rips form a tightening loop] [The rhythm accelerates, then cuts dead] [Verse 3 12] [Dry vocal, bass and one low guitar] Next morning at the schoolhouse He asked, “You making me apologize?” I said, “Not for standing between them Not for keeping Eli safe But when Eli got behind you And that other boy went down Every blow that came thereafter Wasn’t protecting anyone” He stared down at his swollen hand Said, “Dad, I was still mad” I said, “I know exactly how that feels That’s why we’re talking now” [Bridge 8] [No drums; exposed lead] [Grinding sustained chords rise gradually] I still lose that second When my anger feels like right You may hear my father’s voice in you I hear him all the time But a voice is not an order And your blood is not your fate You can feel the fist start closing And still choose to open it [Silence: 2s] [Final Chorus 12] [Loose human drums replace the rigid pattern] [Open cymbals, sustained guitars and complete vocal tails] Be strong enough to stop When you know you crossed the line Strong enough to own the wrong Without surrendering the right You stood between the hurting And somebody that you love Now stand between your anger And what it wants to make you of I won’t shame you for the first blow I won’t lie about the rest You were brave enough to step in Be brave enough to end it Be strong enough to stop [Outro 4] [Drums withdraw; clean guitar and bass remain] He walked into the office With his right hand in a fist When he came back through the doorway It was open At his side [One open-hand tap] [End][End][End]
