I DIED TO LIVE by Travis Hamrick

Style: Southern rock + outlaw country + modern Americana, Mood: Gritty, triumphant, spiritual, resurrection energy, Vocal: Deep male Southern vocal, raspy, emotional, confident, Instrumentation: Distorted electric guitars Slide guitar accents Heavy kick + snare Warm bass groove Hammond organ pads Subtle gospel backing vocals in the chorus

V4.5-ALL

(Spoken Intro)
Yeah… I had to bury a few versions of myself
before I ever learned how to breathe again.
Biloxi boy… Marine… convict… survivor…
But the man standin’ here now?
He’s the one God was tryin’ to build all along.
(Verse 1)
I was born in the heat where the Gulf wind moans,
Biloxi sand stickin’ to my skin and bones.
Ran wild through the years like a stray unclaimed,
Never knew that the fire was already changin’ my name.
(Verse 2)
Joined the Corps, learned to fight, learned to bleed,
Lost brothers in the desert, lost pieces of me.
Came home with a heart like a locked steel gate,
And the boy I used to be never made it back to the States.
(Pre-Chorus)
But every scar, every night on my knees,
Every ghost that whispered, “Son, you ain’t free,”
Was just a shovel in my hand, diggin’ down deep—
Buryin’ the man I couldn’t afford to keep.
(Chorus)
I laid him down in the dirt one night,
Said goodbye to the man who couldn’t get life right.
From Biloxi to the bars of a cold steel cage,
I burned through hell and I walked off the stage.
Now I’m standin’ here stronger, unashamed—
This is the man I buried… and the man I became.
(Verse 3)
Nine hundred ninety-four days behind a locked steel door,
Thought God forgot my name, but He was buildin’ me more.
Came out with a fire that the world can’t tame,
And a soul washed clean in a hard-earned flame.
(Bridge)
I ain’t runnin’ from the shadows that I used to chase,
Ain’t hidin’ from the mirror or the lines on my face.
Had to lose who I was just to rise again—
Had to die to myself just to finally live.
(Chorus – Final)
I laid him down in the dirt one night,
Said goodbye to the man who couldn’t get life right.
From Biloxi to the bars of a cold steel cage,
I burned through hell and I walked off the stage.
Now I’m standin’ here stronger, unashamed—
This is the man I buried… and the man I became.
(Outro – Spoken)
Yeah… sometimes you gotta hold your own funeral
just to feel the sunrise again.
Rest easy, old me.
I’ll take it from here.

1996/7500

(Spoken Intro) Yeah… I had to bury a few versions of myself before I ever learned how to breathe again. Biloxi boy… Marine… convict… survivor… But the man standin’ here now? He’s the one God was tryin’ to build all along. (Verse 1) I was born in the heat where the Gulf wind moans, Biloxi sand stickin’ to my skin and bones. Ran wild through the years like a stray unclaimed, Never knew that the fire was already changin’ my name. (Verse 2) Joined the Corps, learned to fight, learned to bleed, Lost brothers in the desert, lost pieces of me. Came home with a heart like a locked steel gate, And the boy I used to be never made it back to the States. (Pre-Chorus) But every scar, every night on my knees, Every ghost that whispered, “Son, you ain’t free,” Was just a shovel in my hand, diggin’ down deep— Buryin’ the man I couldn’t afford to keep. (Chorus) I laid him down in the dirt one night, Said goodbye to the man who couldn’t get life right. From Biloxi to the bars of a cold steel cage, I burned through hell and I walked off the stage. Now I’m standin’ here stronger, unashamed— This is the man I buried… and the man I became. (Verse 3) Nine hundred ninety-four days behind a locked steel door, Thought God forgot my name, but He was buildin’ me more. Came out with a fire that the world can’t tame, And a soul washed clean in a hard-earned flame. (Bridge) I ain’t runnin’ from the shadows that I used to chase, Ain’t hidin’ from the mirror or the lines on my face. Had to lose who I was just to rise again— Had to die to myself just to finally live. (Chorus – Final) I laid him down in the dirt one night, Said goodbye to the man who couldn’t get life right. From Biloxi to the bars of a cold steel cage, I burned through hell and I walked off the stage. Now I’m standin’ here stronger, unashamed— This is the man I buried… and the man I became. (Outro – Spoken) Yeah… sometimes you gotta hold your own funeral just to feel the sunrise again. Rest easy, old me. I’ll take it from here.

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