[Intro] (mmm, mmm, mmm…) (ooo, ooo, ooo…) [Verse 1] Dawn on the river, mist on the rail, John walks the catwalk, coffee and pale. He kisses his boy with a grease‑stained hand, “Watch the water, watch the land.” (mmm, mmm, by the river) [Pre‑Chorus] Lever in his palm like a promise to keep, Up for the fishermen, down for the sleep Of iron wheels and the people they bring— He’s the hinge between river and ring. (ooo, ooo, hinge between) [Chorus] One man, one lever, one impossible choice, Between the many and the one he calls “boy.” Heaven’s heart beating in a mortal frame— Love pays a price it cannot name. (mmm… mmm… ooo… ooo…) [Verse 2] Midday sun, the horn of a train, Shadows stretch long on the shaking chain. He moves to lower, then freezes cold— His child in the gears, too young, too bold. (mmm, mmm, little boy) [Pre‑Chorus] Time cuts narrow, the whistle won’t wait, A father’s cry meets the weight of fate. If he stops, the cars will fly and fall; If he lowers, he loses all. (ooo… ooo… loses all) [Chorus] One man, one lever, one impossible choice, Between the many and the one he calls “boy.” Heaven’s heart beating in a mortal frame— Love pays a price it cannot name. (mmm… mmm… ooo… ooo…) [Bridge] (spoken‑sung, intimate, then build) Our Father faced a crossing no soul could mend: To save the world, He gave His Son. Not by accident, but a plan before time— Holiness meeting sin, through the Mediator’s line. Jesus said, “I lay it down”—no chains, no force, A willing Lamb on a willing course. (mmm… mmm… willing Lamb) (ooo… ooo… before time) [Instrumental Break] (fingerpicked acoustic + pedal steel, Hammond swell, cello under) (ooo, ooo, ooo…) (mmm, mmm, mmm…) [Final Chorus] (key lift +1, soaring, big background) One Father, one Son, one unshakable choice— He chose the cross so we could rejoice. Holy and loving, He bore our shame, Love paid a price we could not name. (mmm… mmm… ooo… ooo… we could not name) [Outro] (gentle, dawn‑to‑dusk resolution) Dawn to dusk, the river runs on, John stands silent when the boatmen are gone. And somewhere beyond the steel and foam, A Father calls His children home. (mmm… mmm… calls His children home) (ooo… ooo… home…)
