Hands

[Verse 1 — warm, intimate male baritone; acoustic guitar, gentle country pulse] Sunrise paints the kitchen gold, another day arrives Little hands are reaching out, still have sleep in our eyes Got a roof above our heads, a garden green and wide A table full of simple things, and all of us inside [Chorus — warm, open country lift; grounded male baritone, restrained harmony] Family helps us carry on, when the days get hard to hold We got a well of strength within us, more than we'll ever know Thank the Lord for every hand that helped us get this far Got that gentle heartland faith, and it makes us who we are One steady step into what's next, however the road may turn We've got each other's backs, and from these prayers we learn What was placed into our hands, we'll shape it day by day Then pass it down the road, and in time give it away [Verse 2 — warm storytelling; slightly more rhythmic] Grandpa's wisdom was in the stories, passed down the line Hard work built this little place, made this humble life of mine Mama's faith is in her laughter, in the healing of her hands And the things they planted there still take root in this land [Chorus — fuller instrumentation, warm harmony] Family helps us carry on, when the days get hard to hold We got a well of strength within us, more than we'll ever know Thank the Lord for every hand that helped us get this far Got that gentle heartland faith, and it makes us who we are One steady step into what's next, however the road may turn We've got each other's backs, and from these prayers we learn What was placed into our hands, we'll shape it day by day Then pass it down the road, and in time give it away [Bridge — pull back at first, acoustic guitar and piano; gradually building] And when our hands are tired and worn, and there's nothing left to prove Trust the work we've done, it'll find its way to you We'll build it bigger, build it better, with every breath we take Leave more than we were given, for the ones who follow in our wake [Pause] [Chorus — warm, open traditional country; grounded male baritone, subtle harmony] Family helps us carry on, when the days get hard to hold We've got each other's backs, and from these prayers we know Thank the Lord for every hand that helped us day by day We'll carry it down the road, and in time give it away [Chorus Lift — wider harmony, gentle rise; drums and pedal steel open up] The children are our future, let them grow strong and wise Lead them to be caring, loving and kind When these hands are tired and worn, we'll know what they were for To shape what we were given and leave a little more [Pause] [Outro — stripped back, intimate; acoustic guitar and soft piano] There is hope for the future I can see it in their eyes Thank You for Your guiding hands And this beautiful sunrise