Lay Your Weapon Down (Turn the Ship Around)

Bubba Patrick & Darlene featuring The Holler Shakers, Original North Georgia country gospel blues and country soul, Bubba mature warm gritty MALE baritone verse1; Darlene unmistakably FEMALE soulful alto verse2; distinct solo turns and close male-female duet choruses, Clear natural words, organic live ensemble, Bracket instructions and chords are not sung, Complete resolved ending, no abrupt cutoff, G major 92 BPM, Swamp country-soul shuffle, acoustic guitar, Hammond, steel guitar, bass and drums; harmonica motif, lifted gospel chorus, Signature progression: Holler Roll-Up G6–Em7–Cadd9–D7; Lantern Turn G6–Bbmaj7–Cadd9–Cm6–G/D–E7–A7 D7–G6

[Intro: acoustic guitar and Hammond] [Verse 1: Bubba, male] Had a sharp reply all polished up, Like a silver spoon beside my cup. You were talking, I was loading words, Planning what I'd say instead of what I heard. Then the room got small and the coffee cold, Same old river, same old heavy load. [Chorus: duet] Lay your weapon down, turn the ship around, Let that hard word settle to the ground. There's a person on the other shore, You don't have to win another war. Turn toward mercy, let the truth come through, There's an honest, kinder thing to do. Lay your weapon down, let love be found, It's time to turn the ship around. [Verse 2: Darlene, female] You can keep a boundary, speak what's true, Without making hurt the work you do. You can say you're sorry, mean each word, Give a quiet voice a chance to be heard. Some old debts take time to mend, But pride don't have to steer again. [Chorus: duet] Lay your weapon down, turn the ship around, Let that hard word settle to the ground. There's a person on the other shore, You don't have to win another war. Turn toward mercy, let the truth come through, There's an honest, kinder thing to do. Lay your weapon down, let love be found, It's time to turn the ship around. [Instrumental: steel and harmonica, eight bars] [Bridge: duet, quiet] Lord, I brought a courtroom everywhere I went, Spent the afternoon on an argument. Let me put the gavel on the shelf, Listen for a moment beyond myself. [Final chorus: duet, full warm band] Lay your weapon down, turn the ship around, Let that hard word settle to the ground. There's a person on the other shore, You don't have to win another war. Turn toward mercy, let the truth come through, There's an honest, kinder thing to do. Lay your weapon down, let love be found, It's time to turn the ship around. [Outro] One open hand, one gentler sound, One small turn can turn us around. [Lantern Turn, resolved G6, natural ending]

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