[Intro — fingerpicked acoustic guitar] [Verse 1 — Bubba, male] I kept my mouth shut through the daylight, Took my trouble off to bed. Every word I wouldn’t tell You Kept on turning in my head. Like a field beneath an August With no cloud to shade the ground, I was drying up inside me While I said, “I’m doing fine.” [Electric guitar answers; bass enters] [Verse 2 — Bubba, male] There’s a weariness in hiding That a night of sleep won’t mend. I could dress it up for company, Then go carry it again. Till I quit rehearsing reasons, Quit explaining wrong away, And I brought You what I’d buried With no pretty words to say. [Drums enter — gentle shuffle] [Chorus — Bubba lead; Darlene, female harmony] What a mercy to be forgiven, What a load to leave behind. I don’t have to keep pretending There ain’t trouble on my mind. Lord, You heard my plain confession; I had nothing left to hide. Now there’s room enough for breathing With Your mercy by my side. [Hammond organ and piano enter] [Verse 3 — Darlene, female] Blessed is the one whose burden Has been lifted by the Lord, Who can stand without a cover Made of carefully chosen words. You don’t need a polished story; You can tell Him what is true. There is freedom in the mercy That you cannot give to you. [Verse 4 — Bubba, male] So I’ll seek You while I’m able, I won’t put this prayer away. When the flood comes through the lowland, Be my shelter where I stay. Let the songs of Your deliverance Rise around this heart of mine. I have spent enough days hiding; Lord, I’m stepping toward Your light. [Chorus — full duet] What a mercy to be forgiven, What a load to leave behind. I don’t have to keep pretending There ain’t trouble on my mind. Lord, You heard my plain confession; I had nothing left to hide. Now there’s room enough for breathing With Your mercy by my side. [Instrumental — harmonica carries the melody; tenor sax answers; fiddle and banjo join] [Bridge — organ and quiet rhythm] [Bubba, male] Teach me where to put my footsteps. [Darlene, female] Let Him show you where to go. [Bubba, male] Keep me from that stubborn pulling When You’re trying to lead me home. [Both] Let me listen without fighting, Let me learn beneath Your eye. I have leaned on my own wisdom; Now I’m laying down my pride. [Band builds — rolling piano and brass responses] [Verse 5 — Bubba, male] There is sorrow down the road Where a hardened heart can lead. But Your faithful love surrounds us When we trust You with our need. So let every grateful sinner Find a little room to sing. We have brought our wrong before You; We have tasted what You bring. [Final chorus — duet and joyful choir] What a mercy to be forgiven, What a load to leave behind. I don’t have to keep pretending There ain’t trouble on my mind. Lord, You heard my plain confession; I had nothing left to hide. Now there’s room enough for singing With Your mercy by my side. [Outro — call and response] [Bubba, male] Bring the truth out of the shadows. [Darlene, female] Let your thankful voice be heard. [Bubba, male] There is gladness for the faithful. [Choir] There is mercy in the Lord! [Acoustic guitar; voices soften] [Bubba, male] I brought You what I’d buried. [Darlene, female] You heard me when I cried. [Both] What a mercy to be forgiven, With nothing left to hide.
