## **“A Good Man”** *Gospel / Soul Ballad* **Verse 1** I’ve had some roads that bent too far, I’ve had some nights that left a scar, Some folks judged the things they heard, Some spoke my name with heavy words. Some called it wrong, some called it shame, Some only knew me by my pain, But that ain’t who I am today, The Lord reached down and made a way. **Pre-Chorus** I’ve fallen low, but I got back up, I’ve tasted mercy, I’ve drank from love, And every tear I had to cry, Became a prayer that touched the sky. **Chorus** I just want to be a good man, A loving heart and clean hands, When they speak my name someday, Let them say I changed my ways. I just want to be a good man, A faithful soul who took a stand, And when my race down here is done, I want to hear God say, “Well done.” **Verse 2** I tried to be a brother true, A husband faithful through and through, I worked at being a father too, Even when I didn’t know what to do. I tried to love when love was hard, Tried to forgive with a wounded heart, Tried to be fair to enemies, And let God fight what I couldn’t see. **Pre-Chorus** My falls made news, my wins stayed quiet, But grace was working deep inside it, They saw the storm, but missed the rain, That washed my soul and changed my name. **Chorus** I just want to be a good man, A loving heart and clean hands, When they speak my name someday, Let them say I changed my ways. I just want to be a good man, A faithful soul who took a stand, And when my race down here is done, I want to hear God say, “Well done.” **Bridge** I buried my father, Lord, You know I cried, Then my brother left my side, Then my mother went on home, And some days I feel so alone. Lord, I wish that they could see, The man Your grace has made of me, Educated, learned, and still I stand, Not just smart, but a better man. **Verse 3** I got started late, but I’m running still, Climbing up that holy hill, Paying my bills, taking care of home, Trying to stand like a man full grown. Responsible in my older days, Less about pride and more about grace, And when the evening sun sinks low, There’s just one thing I want them to know. **Final Chorus** I just want to be a good man, A loving heart and clean hands, When they speak my name someday, Let them say I changed my ways. I just want to be a good man, A faithful soul who took a stand, And when my race down here is done, I want to hear God say, “Well done.” **Vamp / Outro** Say I was kind, say I was true, Say I gave what I could give to you, Say I loved, say I forgave, Say I found God and I was changed. Not a perfect man, but a changed man, Not a flawless man, but a saved man, When my story reaches the end, Let them say, “He was a good man.” Lord, when my race down here is done, Let me hear You say, “Well done.”