Payin’ My Blues Dues
[Verse 1]
Walkin’ the back road past the mill, soles split at the toe
Traded my mornings for bar stools, watched daylight pack up and go
Missed my sister’s Sunday wedding, skipped my boy’s birthday cake
Left my name on crumpled tabs, gave more than I could take
[Verse 2]
Pawned the gold band from my wedding for a half pint and a lie
Couldn’t keep a promise, but I knew how to watch the clock run by
Called myself a working man, but I slept through the shift bell’s cry
Crossed the church on Main Street, kept my head low walking by
[Chorus]
I’m settling my tab with the past, singing these blues
Paying for choices I didn’t mean to choose
Every wrong turn, every midnight I burned through
Is carved in my voice—Payin’ My Blues Dues
[Verse 3]
Years piled up like overdue rent, nailed to the landlord’s door
Told myself I’d fix it tomorrow, but I kept finding one more pour
The bill for foolish living keeps knocking loud and clear
If pain buys a little wisdom, I’ve paid for more than a year
[Chorus]
I’m settling my tab with the past, singing these blues
Paying for choices I didn’t mean to choose
Every wrong turn, every midnight I burned through
Is carved in my voice—Payin’ My Blues Dues
[Bridge]
I’ve felt the kitchen warm with coffee at dawn
Heard the paperboy’s bike hum, knew the worst was gone
Traded bitter for steady, found a reason to stay
Wrote my past in pencil, rubbed half the weight away
[Final Chorus]
Now I’m mending the fence, hammer in hand
Trying to be the father my boy can understand
Redemption’s not handed, you work it like you do
But I’m singing with hope—Payin’ My Blues Dues
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