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