I remember daddy held the bible like a gun
Back when I was a pentacostal gospel preacher's son
And I still can see the fire and brimstone in his eyes
When he preached to people in a tent
Repent before you die

Me, I'd sneak out back with some saintly, southern girl
And there I'd teach her the ways of this world

Well, yeah, Lord, I guess I was way too wild
To be the child of a preacher man
One foot on a solid rock

And with one on the that sinkin' sand
Just like the prodigal son
I guess I got way too lost
Livin' somewhere in between the devil and the cross

I was daddy's worst nightmare
By the time I turned eighteen
Baptized in a whiskey river
On the streets of New Orleans
Where the demons, drugs, and rock and roll
They seemed to clog my mind
And women were a weakness
For weeks at a time

I learned the hard way
What you reap is what you sew
So in silent desperation
One night I headed home

Well, yeah, Lord, I guess I was way too wild
To be the child of a preacher man
One foot on a solid rock

And with one on the that sinkin' sand
Just like the prodigal son
I guess I got way too lost
Livin' somewhere in between the devil and the cross

Daddy did more than talk the talk
He walked the walk in life
He loved me and forgave me
When I came home that night
He said, son, don't ever be ashamed
For God forgives the lost
We all live somewhere in between the devil and the cross

Well, yeah, Lord, I guess I was way too wild
To be the child of a preacher man
One foot on a solid rock

And with one on the that sinkin' sand
Just like the prodigal son
I guess I got way too lost
Livin' somewhere in between the devil and the cross