Brother Joe

Brother Joe never had a lot, he became a man of God Started preaching at the church down by mile marker 17 He works his days, he works his nights Spends his time saving lives When the day ends, he goes home to his beautiful family Sweet, sweet Valerie, well, she's the whole reason He ever found God in the first place He thinks back to the first date He was nervous, jumbling his words Sweating when he tried to flirt He'd just never seen a woman in the world as beautiful as her She told him all about Jesus and the love He had to give Few years have passed now, and they're thinking 'bout some kids They popped out a couple few They sit up in the front pew Every Sunday morning when he's in the pulpit Spreading gospel to the room Preacher man, he's so in love With God, his woman, his three sons And every morning when he wakes He thanks the good Lord up above This life he lives is more than enough, sometimes things get tough But he does it for his Valerie who pulled him from the rough, yeah It was Sunday night, he was back in his office He was writing down talking points for the sermon next week He was writing 'bout forgiveness and rollin' with the punches "If you catch one on the chin, you just gotta turn the other cheek" Phone started ringing He was busy singing some old gospel hymn he learned From his sweet, sweet Valerie He checked who was calling He knew somethin' was off when He saw the sheriff's office on the caller ID He picked up the call and his heart started dropping He don't get this way often, but he's grittin' his teeth Someone broke into the parsonage, the neighbors heard the poppin' Before the lady finished, he was down on his knees She told him they caught him Two broken locks and three little bodies and his sweet, sweet Valerie Well, the preacher man, he's got a gun, he don't wanna hurt no one But he believed that Jesus needed him to leave a bullet in a man's head He knows that come the risen sun, it'll all be said and done He ain't gonna make it right tonight if he don't paint the walls red He puts the steel to his own head Two words is all he said Tears streaming down his cheeks as he let out a, "Jesus wept" "What the hell was all this for?" Lifeless body hits the floor Soul is headed home sweet home To his three boys and his sweet, sweet Valerie Oh, his sweet Valerie, oh Brother Joe never had a lot, he became a man of God Started preaching at the church down by mile marker 17