Well that steel was cold and hard
When they slapped them on my wrist
Seventeen headed straight to jail drunk on half a fifth
Daddy drove down to the jailhouse
Said I ain't gonna bail you out
Between these steel bars and mama's broken heart
Here's something you can think about
He said a many a man by his own two hands
Bring a hurting on himself
Got too much pride to lift his eyes up
To heaven for a little help
Now everybody needs forgiveness
Cause even a good man fails
The Good Lord's building mansions
The devil's just driving nails
I went to my best friend's funeral
He left a wife and two young kids
I guess his reasons for dying
Got bigger than his reason to live
That preacher's voice faded in the rain
And tears that day
Until all I heard were my daddy's words
As we gathered round to pray
He said a many a man by his own two hands
Bring a hurting on himself
Got too much pride to lift his eyes up
To heaven for a little help
Now everybody needs forgiveness
Cause even a good man fails
The Good Lord's building mansions
The devil's just driving nails
Back roads Sunday morning
I was hit with Amazing Grace
I heard a story about a carpenter
And tear rolled down my face
I saw that cross and God's only son with
His hands nailed to the wood
And I thought of the years that brought me
Here and I finally understood
He went a many a man by his own two hands
Bring a hurting on himself
The greatest gift that a man
Can give is dying for someone else
Now everybody needs forgiveness
Cause even a good man fails
The Good Lord's building mansions
The devil's just driving nails
The Good Lord's building mansions
The devil's just driving nails
