The Rock of My Soul - Rodney Crowell

The rock of my soul went to church on Sunday

The rock of my soul went to work on Monday

Clean across the levee by the railroad tracks

The other side of Houston in a two-room shack

Sweepin' out confetti from a third grade classroom

The rock of my soul pushed a dust mop broom

The rock of my soul didn’t have much luck

He came to town a-grinnin' on a flat bed truck

The rock of my soul didn’t have much charm

Ah with the lack of education on a red dirt farm

And he was fond of disappearing on an eight day drunk

Coming home smelling like a lowdown skunk

And he said…

Do like I say, not like I do and you might make me proud

Another Houston kid on a downhill skid for crying out loud

I’m a first hand witness to an age-old crime

A man who hits a woman isn’t worth a dime

5, 6, 7, 8, 9 years old

That’s what I remember 'bout the rock of my soul

I told him I would kill him if he did not stop it But the rock of my soul just would not drop it I learned to lie like dirt I could steal your shirt and talk with a gun

Another Houston kid on a downhill skid like father like son

Now I got out of prison 'bout a year ago

Seven long years really went by slow

I didn’t kill my daddy but my momma tried

Ah she shot him with a pistol and he like to a-died

I’m on probation living straight and true

And there’s every indication that the past is through

That’s all I know about the rock of my soul.