Son of a Preacherman

Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
I wouldn't normally do this, but I
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Just wanna talk this time
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
This is my story

It was 1981, that's the year my momma and my daddy had a son
They called him Paul like his popsy, was his namesake
There's been a lot of pressure tryna keep that name great
Just because I got his name don't mean that I'm him
People look at me like I'm supposed to be his twin (Be his twin)

We're so different, yet we're still the same
He taught me how to be a man, for that he's to blame (He's to blame)
For being a man and learn I gotta stand on my own
Not spend my whole life tryna be his clone

Crazy thing is that the pressure never came from home (Nope)
It came from outside people who think they know him
So back up, you don't know me, you don't understand
This is the life of the son of a preacher man
Preacher man, ah ah ah ah

No matter what I do (No matter what I do)
No matter what I say (No matter what I say)
People see what they wanna see, it doesn't matter anyway
No matter where I stand (No matter where I stand)
No matter who I am (No matter who I am)
Some people will only ever see the son of a preacher man

So, fast forward, now I'm in my teens
Really deep in the music, starting to see my dreams
But every now and then I would second guess
Should I stick to this music, is it really best?

I mean, even my momma sometimes say I'm running
Sometimes I started to believe it, even though I knew I wasn't
She said, son, you can really make a change
I thought that's I'm doing when I do my thing
She says, no, it's deeper than the music
Deeper than the music? Music is my weapon so I use it
Ah but I guess that's just not good enough

Look at us, look at us, we're pastors and we preach
But that's not always gonna reach like music does
It can cause boundaries, it can touch everyone around me
Not even saying a word, just melody
Are you telling me that's not ministry?
I'm confused, I just don't understand
This is the life of a son of a preacher man

No matter what I do (No matter what I do)
No matter what I say (No matter what I say)
People see what they wanna see, it doesn't matter anyway
No matter where I stand (No matter where I stand)
No matter who I am (No matter who I am)
Some people will only ever see the son of a preacher man

Fast forward, grown man, alright, alright, you don't have to preach
You can do your music, if that's the way you reach
But at least you could do gospel music, right, right, right, right?
I mean, gospel music, yet another boundary
Just another way that you can put your chains on me
Tryna make me what you want me to be

But I broke those chains a long time ago, so I'm free
Free to talk about what I'm feeling
Talk about love and life and still be in the wheel
Talk about relationships how they start and end
And how you never wanna try again
Because it hurts so bad
You never wanna go back
But you know that you could get back
And one day the pain will all pass

I'd rather talk about that
Guess it ain't the pole pick
Oh well, can't please everybody
This is the life of the son of a preacher man

No matter what I do (No matter what I do)
No matter what I say (No matter what I say)
People see what they wanna see, it doesn't matter anyway
No matter where I stand (No matter where I stand)
No matter who I am (No matter who I am)
Some people will only ever see the son of a preacher man
Son of a preacher man