[Verse 1] He came in crying, red and new His mama held him like a prayer His daddy smiled through tired eyes Said, “Son, you’re welcome here” Tiny hands and sleepy cheeks A kitchen floor, a wooden chair The whole house changed the day he lived And love was everywhere [Pre-Chorus] Then came the schoolyard dust and rain A scraped-up knee, a first-name call A first small kiss behind the bleachers And he thought he knew it all [Chorus] For the last time, for the last time He held the ones he loved For the last time, for the last time He felt that mercy touch (For the last time) From first breath to goodbye It was a hard, long road But he made it home [Verse 2] In junior high he found the crowd With smoke and bottles on their breath By high school he was chasing noise And flirting hard with death Wrong turns, pills, and broken vows A house of cards he couldn’t hold He stole for one more fix of life And killed a man one night for gold [Pre-Chorus] The iron door came down on him And prison taught him how to kneel He learned to sleep with one eye open Learned the price of every deal [Chorus] For the last time, for the last time He held the ones he loved For the last time, for the last time He felt that mercy touch (For the last time) From first breath to goodbye It was a hard, long road But he made it home [Bridge] He got out lean and worn-out thin With scarred-up hands and clearer eyes He said, “I’m done with running now” And started building from the lies He worked all day, came home by dark Bought a house on honest ground Found a wife he adored in full And turned his whole world around Two families at the table Grandkids running through the yard Great-grandkids on the porch steps Laughing at the evening stars [Final Chorus] For the last time, for the last time He held the ones he loved For the last time, for the last time He felt that mercy touch (For the last time) From first breath to goodbye It was a hard, long road But he made it home [Outro] Old bones, tired lungs The pain came calling slow The whole room held its breath that night And let him go He looked in her eyes and smiled The sweetest line he ever spoke “I love you” (For the last time)
