A PRAYER AND A PHONE CALL Bubba Patrick featuring Darlene [Intro — gentle piano and fingerpicked acoustic guitar] [Verse 1 — Bubba, male lead] I sat down at the kitchen table, Turned my coffee handle toward the right. The clock above the stove said seven-thirty, I’d been awake through most of the night. I said, “Father, I don’t know where to start here. I’ve been keeping more than I can hold.” Then I picked my phone up off the counter, Found a friend I should’ve called days ago. [Chorus — Bubba lead; Darlene, female harmony] A prayer and a phone call, “Lord, help me,” then, “Hello.” “I’ve been having a hard time, And I thought that you should know.” We didn’t find every answer, But we found somewhere to start. A prayer and a phone call, And some room around my heart. [Verse 2 — Bubba] He said, “I’m heading out to get some breakfast. Want to meet me? I can wait.” I almost told him I was busy, Then said, “Give me twenty. Save a plate.” He listened while I stumbled through the telling, Asked how long I’d felt that way. When I said, “I think I need to talk to somebody,” He said, “I’ll help you find a name today.” [Chorus — Bubba lead; Darlene, female harmony] A prayer and a phone call, “Lord, help me,” then, “Hello.” “I’ve been having a hard time, And I thought that you should know.” We didn’t find every answer, But we found somewhere to start. A prayer and a phone call, And some room around my heart. [Instrumental — brief harmonica over piano and acoustic guitar] [Verse 3 — Bubba] Monday morning, sitting in an office, I kept turning my old cap around. A counselor said, “Take the time you need here.” I took a breath and finally set it down. We talked about the nights and all the worrying, Made a plan to meet again next week. My friend sent me a message after supper: “How’d it go? You need anything?” [Bridge — Bubba, male lead] I used to think I ought to manage, Keep it private, see it through. [Darlene — female lead] You can lean on God And let somebody sit with you. [Bubba — male lead] Some days I still don’t have much to tell Him. [Darlene — female lead] Some days a friend won’t know quite what to say. [Bubba and Darlene — male and female duet] We can listen, make another call, And take the next step anyway. [Final Chorus — Bubba lead; Darlene, full female harmony] A prayer and a phone call, “Lord, help me,” then, “Hello.” “I’ve been having a hard time, And I thought that you should know.” There’s more ahead to work through, But I’ve found somewhere to start. A prayer and a phone call, And some room around my heart. [Outro — piano and acoustic guitar] [Bubba — softly sung] This morning when the coffee finished, I opened up the kitchen blind. Said a little prayer beside the window, Called my friend to see if he was fine. [End — warm piano chord]
