[Intro — acoustic guitar alone, low and searching] [Verse 1 — Bubba, male] Lord, there’s trouble at my doorway, There are words I can’t outrun. I have answered what they asked me, Still the questions keep on coming. You can see beyond the stories, You know what these hands have done. Stand beside me in this struggle; Tell my soul that help will come. [Electric guitar answers; bass enters] [Verse 2 — Bubba, male] There are traps beneath the footsteps Of a road I thought was clear. Let the ones who lay them for me Find their plans unravel here. Turn aside the hands that harm me; Bring their hidden work to light. Let the wrong they planned be stopped, Lord; Be my shelter through the night. [Drums enter — restrained gospel sway] [Chorus — Bubba lead; Darlene, female harmony] Lord, stand up for me, Where the truth is hard to hear. Be my help against the strong ones When I’m worn down by my fear. You can see the whole thing clearly; You know what I cannot see. I will place this case before You. Lord, stand up for me. [Hammond organ enters; harmonica answers] [Verse 3 — Darlene, female] When their homes were full of sorrow, I had bowed my head to pray. When their bodies bent with sickness, I had carried them through the day. Like a sister, like a brother, I had grieved their grief as mine. Now they gather at my stumbling, And their laughter cuts the quiet. [Verse 4 — Bubba, male] There are witnesses with questions About things I never knew. They return my care with trouble; Lord, I bring that hurt to You. Keep their hatred from its purpose; Do not let the lie prevail. You defend the poor and helpless When their own defenses fail. [Chorus — full duet] Lord, stand up for me, Where the truth is hard to hear. Be my help against the strong ones When I’m worn down by my fear. You can see the whole thing clearly; You know what I cannot see. I will place this case before You. Lord, stand up for me. [Instrumental — expressive electric guitar; harmonica answers; tenor sax enters softly] [Bridge — organ and voices] [Bubba, male] You have seen it; don’t stay silent. [Darlene, female] Lord, draw near and hear this plea. [Bubba, male] Rise and judge with perfect justice. [Darlene, female] Let Your truth speak faithfully. [Both] Do not let them call harm victory; Do not let deceit stand tall. Bring the hidden things to daylight, You who hear the helpless call. [Piano enters; fiddle rises] [Verse 5 — Bubba, male] There are others standing near me Who have prayed to see things right. Let them find a song of gladness When Your justice comes to light. In the middle of the people, I will tell what You have done. Every bone within will praise You: Who can rescue like this One? [Band shifts into a brighter swinging shuffle; banjo joins; sax and brass lift the melody] [Final chorus — duet and choir] Lord, stand up for me, Let Your faithful justice shine. You defend the poor and weary; You have heard this prayer of mine. When You bring me through the trouble, There’s a song I’m going to sing: I was helpless in the struggle, But the Lord stood up for me. [Call and response] [Bubba, male] Who can save the weak from the mighty? [Darlene, female and choir] Who can rescue like the Lord? [Bubba, male] Who can hear beneath the shouting? [Darlene, female and choir] Who can rescue like the Lord? [Both] Let the ones who love Your justice Lift their grateful voices high. You delight in Your servant’s welfare; We will praise You all our lives. [Band falls away — acoustic guitar and organ] [Bubba, male] I have laid my case before You. [Darlene, female] Let Your righteous answer speak. [Both] You have heard us in the trouble. Lord, stand up for the weak.
