[Verse 1] He wakes before the sun Before the house can speak A steel cup in his hand A prayer between his teeth He counts the schoolbooks twice He folds the night away No medal on his chest Just another day [Pre-Chorus] He learned it early on What power really is Not in the grip of fists But in the life you lift [Chorus] His greatest reward Is them safe His greatest reward Is them brave When his mother looks up And her fear slips away He stands like a wall So they can grow, so they can play His greatest reward Is them safe His greatest reward Is them brave [Verse 2] He ties their ribbons tight He packs the lunchbox neat He walks them past the school gate Like the world has teeth He does not call it loss He does not call it fate He calls it family And he will hold that weight [Pre-Chorus] He learned it early on What love will ask of you To carry someone else Until they’re standing too [Chorus] His greatest reward Is them safe His greatest reward Is them brave When his mother looks up And her fear slips away He stands like a wall So they can grow, so they can play His greatest reward Is them safe His greatest reward Is them brave [Bridge] If the road is rough He is steady If the night runs long He is ready Not for applause Not for pride Just the joy of seeing Three hearts rise [Final Chorus] His greatest reward Is them safe His greatest reward Is them brave When his mother looks up And relief fills her face He gave them a world With a stronger, kinder place His greatest reward Is them safe His greatest reward Is them brave
