[Intro — solo blues harmonica over acoustic guitar; upright bass joins] [Bubba — MALE, spoken] I used to think if I could just get excited enough, or busy enough, or mad enough... I wouldn't have to deal with what was right in front of me. Well, dadgummit. The front of me kept showing up. [Verse 1 — Bubba, male lead] I could holler at a football game till my voice was gone, Carry that last bad call all the way back home. I could fill up every minute, make another plan, Run so fast from silence I couldn't hear where I am. There's nothing wrong with cheering when the home team scores, Nothing wrong with dancing on a hardwood floor. But when the lights went out and the crowd moved on, The thing I wouldn't face was still waiting at home. [Chorus — Bubba lead, Darlene FEMALE harmony] I'm not my highs, I'm not my lows, Not every storm that comes and goes. I can laugh out loud, I can feel that sting, Without letting either one pull every string. When the shouting fades and the river slows, There's a little more to me than the feeling that shows. Lord, help me see what's true and let the rest just go: I'm not my highs, I'm not my lows. [Verse 2 — Bubba] I could dream about the beach while the morning slipped away, Or keep a fishing line out just to dodge a harder day. Now I love that salty breeze, love a quiet lakeside view, And a sunrise on the water's one of God's fine things to do. It ain't the boat or the ball game, ain't the laughter or the tears, It's the reason that I'm reaching when a feeling disappears. Am I here to taste the sunshine, feel the good earth where I stand? Or am I looking for a getaway from a life already in my hands? [Chorus — Bubba and Darlene, female harmony] I'm not my highs, I'm not my lows, Not every storm that comes and goes. I can laugh out loud, I can feel that sting, Without letting either one pull every string. When the shouting fades and the river slows, There's a little more to me than the feeling that shows. Lord, help me see what's true and let the rest just go: I'm not my highs, I'm not my lows. [Instrumental — Bubba's gritty harmonica trades with Darlene's soulful tenor sax; lively piano turnaround] [Bridge — band falls quiet, acoustic only] [Darlene — FEMALE, spoken] So we can't have a little fun anymore, Bubba? [Bubba — MALE, spoken, chuckling] Oh, we can have a whole lot of fun! I just don't want to need a thunderstorm every time I ought to sit and hear the rain. [Darlene — FEMALE, sung softly] A tear can tell you someone's gone. A smile can tell you love is near. [Bubba — MALE, sung] I don't have to fight the feeling. I don't have to let it steer. [Verse 3 — Bubba, intimate then building] Some days I still get restless, some days the old thoughts race, And I want to fix tomorrow before tomorrow takes its place. So I make myself some coffee, let the morning come around, Hear the birds outside the window, feel my feet upon the ground. When a hard truth comes to meet me, I can face it like a man, Tell the truth and do what's needed, lend a steady helping hand. I don't have to chase the mountaintop or live down in the hole; I can take this day before me, let the good Lord lead my soul. [Final Chorus — full band, joyous gospel harmony, Bubba male lead and Darlene FEMALE harmony] I'm not my highs, I'm not my lows, Not every storm that comes and goes. I can laugh out loud, I can feel that sting, Without letting either one pull every string. When the shouting fades and the river slows, There's a little more to me than the feeling that shows. Lord, help me love what's here and let the rest just go: I'm not my highs, I'm not my lows. [Outro — harmonica and sax soften; guitar rings] [Bubba — MALE, spoken] And if the game goes into overtime... Well, I reckon I'll watch. But I ain't gonna let it take my peace home with it. [Darlene — FEMALE, spoken] Now that's a win, Bubba. [Final warm guitar chord]
