[Verse 1] Down by the cypress knees I seen hard men break One man left his own blood And took another's weight He fed that child his supper Taught him how to stand Worked with split-up knuckles Prayed with dirty hands [Pre-Chorus] A hard road knows his name The river knows his shame But mercy found a place In that poor house frame [Chorus] Blessed by God Blessed by God When you raise what ain't your blood Blessed by God Blessed by God Blessed by God He chose a better love Blessed by God (hey) [Verse 2] Sunday shoes on busted floorboards Mama kept the stove hot That boy learned his father's lessons From a man the world forgot When the county came around With their mouths full of dust He stood there like a lion Said, "That one here is mine" [Pre-Chorus] A hard road knows his name The river knows his shame But mercy found a place In that poor house frame [Chorus] Blessed by God Blessed by God When you raise what ain't your blood Blessed by God Blessed by God Blessed by God He chose a better love Blessed by God (hey) [Bridge] And if the Lord keeps score He don't miss a thing He sees the worn-out jacket He sees the wedding ring He sees that kid grown tall With that old man's chin He sees a borrowed heart Still shining from within [Final Chorus] Blessed by God Blessed by God When you raise what ain't your blood Blessed by God Blessed by God Blessed by God He chose a better love Blessed by God (hey)
