Got it. This one leans Chris Stapleton–style: raw, Southern-soul storytelling, simple language, heavy heart, no clever-for-clever’s-sake lines. Emotional tension lives in the space between choices, not big drama. NEW SONG — “HALF A TANK OF LEAVING” [VERSE 1] Mama’s truck’s still warm at dawn Coffee ring on the dash She says, “Baby, go live your life” But her eyes don’t back it up That house has learned my footsteps Every creak knows my name I’ve been packing up my courage And unpacking my pain [PRE-CHORUS] He’s got a town that’s calling me A job, a bed, a plan Mama’s got a quiet kitchen And two hands I still hold when I can [CHORUS] I got one foot on the gas One foot on the brake Half a tank of leaving Half a heart that might break If I stay, I’ll wonder “what if” If I go, I’ll carry her Loving him feels like flying Loving her feels like the ground [VERSE 2] Mama’s been strong since daddy left Like strong was all she had She never asked me to stay behind But she never learned to ask He says, “We’ll build a life somewhere Where the nights don’t feel so long” Mama says, “I’ll be just fine” And I know that’s just her being strong [PRE-CHORUS 2] I’ve been raised on borrowed courage And a love that never ran I don’t know if I’m brave enough To choose one over the other hand [CHORUS] I got one foot on the gas One foot on the brake Half a tank of leaving Half a heart that might break If I stay, I’ll miss forever If I go, I’ll miss today I’m trying to find myself somewhere Without losing where I came from [BRIDGE] Mama says, “I’ll still be here” Like time won’t change a thing But I hear the echo in the hallway When I don’t come home at night He says, “I’ll wait if I have to” But love don’t like delay And I don’t know how to choose between The past and what might save me [FINAL CHORUS / OUTRO] So I sit here in the driveway Engine humming low Watching the porch light flicker Like it knows what I don’t know One foot on the gas One foot on the brake Half a tank of leaving Praying love don’t make me choose Who I have to break [OUTRO] Mama waves from the doorway Like she’s done a thousand times I turn the wheel just a little And ask God to make it right
