[INTRO – SPOKEN] [BUBBA] Well… A man can get used to chains. Sometimes he wears ’em so long… he forgets they’re there. [DARLENE] Until he tries to walk away. [BUBBA] That’s when he finds out… how strong they really were. [HARMONICA – low blues riff] [VERSE 1 – BUBBA] I’ve worn chains that nobody could see, They weren’t made of iron, but they held onto me. A bottle in the darkness, A habit in the night, A heart full of anger That wouldn’t make things right. I’ve known the sound of a heavy door, I’ve known what regret can do, I’ve spent enough years behind old chains To know they don’t belong to you. [VERSE 2 – DARLENE] A chain can look like comfort When you’re afraid to leave, A lie can feel like shelter When you’re scared to believe. But freedom doesn’t always Come shouting through the door, Sometimes it comes quietly: “I don’t live there anymore.” [CHORUS – BOTH] No more chains, No more running, No more hiding from the truth. No more drinking, No more drowning, No more wasting what is good. The past can keep its memories, But it don’t control my days. By the grace of God Almighty, I’m walking out of these chains. [YODEL – BUBBA] Yodel-ay-ee… Yodel-ay-oh… [DARLENE] Walk on, brother, walk on. [YODEL – BOTH] Yodel-ay-ee… Yodel-ay-ay… [VERSE 3 – BUBBA] I’ve seen prison walls around a man’s life, I’ve seen freedom lost in a bottle overnight. I’ve seen families broken, I’ve seen good men fall, I’ve seen pride build a prison With no bars at all. But I’ve also seen mercy Reach a desperate hand, And I’ve seen a broken heart Become a better man. [VERSE 4 – DARLENE] Freedom doesn’t mean You never face the cost, It means you stop believing That everything is lost. You may have to rebuild What you broke along the way, But a man who keeps walking Can build another day. Don’t ask for yesterday, It already passed. Ask God for the strength To make this morning last. [HARMONICA SOLO – BUBBA] [OLD-TIME BLUES HARMONICA SOLO] [BRIDGE – GOSPEL CALL & RESPONSE] [BUBBA] Who breaks the chains? [DARLENE] God does. [BUBBA] Who gives us strength? [DARLENE] God does. [BUBBA] Who sees the heart? [DARLENE] God does. [BUBBA] Who gives another chance? [DARLENE] God does. [BOTH] Then walk. Don’t look back. [VERSE 5 – BUBBA] I ain’t saying I’m a perfect man, I ain’t saying I never fall. I’m saying when I stumble now, I know Who I can call. I’ve got people I need to love, I’ve got work that needs to be done, I’ve got a life to build And a race that ain’t yet run. So I’ll take these old scars And turn them into proof: The chains may have held me, But they never owned the truth. [CHORUS – BOTH] No more chains, No more running, No more hiding from the truth. No more drinking, No more drowning, No more wasting what is good. The past can keep its memories, But it don’t control my days. By the grace of God Almighty, I’m walking out of these chains. [YODEL – BOTH] Yodel-ay-ee… Yodel-ay-oh… [BUBBA] I’m walking free! [DARLENE] Walking free! [BOTH] Yodel-ay-ee… Yodel-ay-ay… [VERSE 6 – BOTH] [BUBBA] I spent too long surviving— [DARLENE] Now it’s time to live. [BUBBA] I spent too long taking— [DARLENE] Now it’s time to give. [BUBBA] I spent too long running— [DARLENE] Now you’re standing still. [BOTH] And when the Lord says, “Walk with Me,” You know you will. [FINAL CHORUS – FULL] No more chains, No more running, No more hiding from the truth. No more drinking, No more drowning, There’s a better life to choose. The past can keep its memories, But it don’t control my days. By the grace of God Almighty, I’m walking out of these chains. No more chains, No more shame, No more living in yesterday. I’ve got mercy, I’ve got grace, I’ve got another road to take. [FINAL YODEL – FULL] Yodel-ay-ee… Yodel-ay-oh… [BUBBA] No more chains! [DARLENE] No more chains! [BOTH] Yodel-ay-ee… Yodel-ay-ay… We’re walking free! [OUTRO – SPOKEN] [BUBBA] Darlene? [DARLENE] Yes? [BUBBA] You know what freedom feels like? [DARLENE] What’s that? [BUBBA] Waking up… and not needing to run. [DARLENE] That’s freedom. [BUBBA] Then I reckon… I’m finally learning how to walk. [HARMONICA – gentle final phrase] [YODEL – distant] Yodel-ay-ee… Yodel-ay-oh…
