"was that u at the window Lord"

Lanny Deal — “Was That You At My Window, Lord?” Response to Marie’s “Highway To Home” 12Gauge858 Music (Moody country-trap fusion intro — slow 70 BPM pulse, deep 808 bass rumble, bowed cello drones, sparse piano notes, and distant electric guitar swells drifting like headlights through fog, building toward a powerful, soaring vocal presence) in Lord… You remember that night. That truck was quiet enough to hear my soul quit talkin’. I had my little brother on my mind… Grandma and Grandpa in my chest… And a folded goodbye sittin’ beside me. Then somebody knocked on that glass. I still wonder… Was that them? Or was that You? And I ain’t no country singer, Lord… Just a trucker tryin’ to make sense of the miles. (Hi-hats begin ticking softly, heartbeat tempo) [Verse 1] I parked behind that closed-down station Where the sign don’t light no more Diesel tickin’ under the hood Like a tired heart countin’ backwards from four Had my brother’s old cap on the dashboard Still smelled like dust and summer sweat He left this world too young for answers And I ain’t made peace with that yet Grandma’s voice was in my memory Grandpa’s hand was on my name But grief had climbed inside that cab And sat there breathin’ just the same I had a note folded twice on the console Couldn’t even spell goodbye clean Ink ran where my tears kept fallin’ On words I pray nobody ever reads (808 bass drops heavier, cello deepens) [Pre-Chorus] And I said, “God, are You still watchin’? ’Cause I don’t feel watched tonight I’ve been strong in front of people But I’m breakin’ out of sight” [Chorus] Was that You at my window, Lord? Knucklin’ grace against the glass When that stranger leaned down gentle And asked, “Brother, you alright with that?” Was that You in a worn-out jacket? Was that heaven in work boots there? ’Cause I was one breath from surrender Till mercy showed up in the air I don’t know his name But I know what he came for I was done with this road Till You knocked on my door So when Marie sings highway to home I hear tires on gravel and more I hear You askin’ through a stranger “Are you still with Me, Lanny Deal?” Was that You at my window, Lord? (Electric guitar swells, echoing like distant sirens, vocals rising with emotional, soaring intensity) [Verse 2] He didn’t preach from no pulpit Didn’t quote a verse too clean He just stood there in the cold wind Like somebody sent him for me Said, “I saw your shoulders shakin’ And I couldn’t just drive past” Lord, I hated that he saw me But I needed him to ask I rolled that window down half an inch Shame came pourin’ out my face He said, “You ain’t gotta talk, man But don’t leave from this place” I looked down at that folded letter Like it belonged to someone else Then I heard my little brother laughin’ Somewhere deep beneath the bells Grandma said, “Baby, keep breathin’” Grandpa said, “Boy, give God one more mile” And that stranger never knew it But he sounded like them for a while (Beat strips down — just hi-hats and cello pulse) [Pre-Chorus] So I said, “God, if You still want me I need proof I ain’t alone” Then that man put one hand on my truck door Like an angel made of bone (Beat slams back in, vocals building stronger) [Chorus] Was that You at my window, Lord? Knucklin’ grace against the glass When that stranger leaned down gentle And asked, “Brother, you alright with that?” Was that You in a worn-out jacket? Was that heaven in work boots there? ’Cause I was one breath from surrender Till mercy showed up in the air I don’t know his name But I know what he came for I was done with this road Till You knocked on my door So when Marie sings highway to home I hear tires on gravel and more I hear You askin’ through a stranger “Are you still with Me, Lanny Deal?” Was that You at my window, Lord? (Guitar distortion rises, then fades into low cello drone) [Bridge] I tore that note in four uneven pieces Dropped ’em in a gas station can Not because the pain had left me But because You reached for my hand I drove home with the radio silent Both eyes swollen, chest still sore But the moon sat low on the windshield Like a porch light from before And I told my brother, “I miss you” Told Grandma, “I’m tryin’ my best” Told Grandpa, “I ain’t quit yet” Then I cried till there was nothin’ left (Beat softens — echoing 808s, distant guitar harmonics) [Final Chorus] Was that You at my window, Lord? I believe I know it now You don’t always split the heavens Sometimes You send a man through town No robe, no wings, no thunder Just two headlights and a prayer And one question through a truck cab That pulled me back from nowhere I don’t know his name But I know what he came for I was done with this road Till You knocked on my door So when they sing highway to home I don’t rush to leave no more I’ll keep drivin’ till You call me But I won’t go before You found me in that parking lot With grief I couldn’t carry no more I’m still here ’cause You knocked first Was that You at my windo