Throughout my entire life 
The way of the women
Before me, and before their mothers 
Was to gather ’round an altar
To pray for salvation 
To pray for forgiveness 
To pray for healing 
To pray for their souls 
To pray for the Lord Jesus Christ 
To give them the strength to do 
Whatever it was they were called for 
To sing 
To shout 
To praise
To pray some more 
Where creekside revivals 
Were held for days on end 
Behind the scenes of small  church doors
Where the women hung to the cloth and cross
For fear of the repercussions of the Father,Son and Holy Ghost 
Where deep in Appalachia the men mostly lay stripes with belts

I am certain that Jesus never found me there 
I am certain that he never went looking 
According to the women in the church 
He would have never left the 99 to look 
For a thing, such as me

If Heaven and Hell do exist 
I am certain that I already met the devil 
Behind the church outhouse 
Where I witnessed hell in real time 
Then preacher asked us to pray it all away 
Assured us that it all would 
We just had to come inside
Join the alter call, on our knees
pray we would be forgiven and 
BELIEVE. 

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