[Intro — slow 3/4; bright acoustic guitar alone, simple Delta-blues chords. Upright piano enters softly after a few bars. Let the room breathe.] [Verse 1 — older male lead, warm and weathered] Mama told me… life would be hard… Daddy told me too… Grow up strong… grow up sturdy… Trusting in the Lord. [Acoustic guitar answers with a short blues fill] [Verse 2 — brushed drums and upright bass enter gently] Don’t take chances… don’t be a fool… Stay trusting in the Lord… Keep your feet down on the ground… Stay trusting in the Lord. [Short piano answer, then silence] [Chorus — lift upward in key; brighter, but still sparse] I’ll tell you rightly… I’ll tell you true… When life comes at you With both barrels— [Full-band stop] Duck! [One beat of silence — acoustic guitar snaps back in] Keep trusting in the Lord… Yeah, duck… And keep trusting in the Lord. [Short acoustic turnaround] [Verse 3 — settle back down; intimate vocal] Some days come easy… Some days come hard… Some days shake you to the core… Stay trusting in the Lord. [Acoustic guitar response] [Chorus — same key lift; piano slightly stronger] I’ll tell you rightly… I’ll tell you true… When life comes at you With both barrels— [Full-band stop] Duck! [Brief silence] Keep trusting in the Lord… Yeah, duck… And keep trusting in the Lord. [Bridge — Hammond organ appears low underneath; vocal becomes more reflective] Remember this world is not your home… You must stay ready… For the better life to come. Keep your eyes on Jesus… Whatever road you’re on… Stay trusting in the Lord. [Instrumental break — 8 bars; acoustic guitar and upright piano trade simple answers, Hammond low in the background] [Final Chorus — brighter key lift, still raw and restrained] I’ll tell you rightly… I’ll tell you true… When life comes at you With both barrels— [Everything cuts out] Duck! [Longer pause — then guitar, piano, bass and brushes return softly] Keep trusting in the Lord… Yeah, duck… And keep trusting in the Lord. [Outro — vocal almost spoken] Mama told me… Daddy told me too… [Acoustic guitar answers] Stay trusting in the Lord. [End on a loose acoustic chord with soft piano underneath]
