"Against The Grain" lyrics

Not used to nothing nice, always lived in broken shambles
It was many cold nights with no lights, we lit up candles
As a boy I was faced with more than most could handle
With the odds stacked against me I learned that life's a gamble
Granddaddy drove a truck, a Peterbilt, across this land
And my daddy hit the road, I was too young to understand
My momma ran away with a shady type of man
But I put my faith in God, Lord I know you got a plan
'Cause these hard times made a strong mind, been a
Long road for a long time, I been
Through hell, I been baptized, I been
Better known as the bad guy, I was
Locked up, I been chained down, I been
Sky high, never came down, I been
Loved good, I been hated hard, but it's
Understood, it's how you play your cards
And I'll be damned if I'ma lose, I got news for you doubters
Let my strength be my light when I fight my darkest hour
Let my courage just devour all the poison and pain
All the noise and the rain, every voice inside my brain
I never choose to entertain, I'd rather cruise, switching lane
With this outlaw blood, I feel it oozing in my veins
I never point the finger 'cause who am I to blame?
It's all part of life, always been against the grain, come on

I wear my hands down to the bone just to make me a little pay
Never had no place to call my home, always had to go against the grain
I couldn't find love on a dead-end road and my heart's been tore to pain
Had many a ride in the back of a car with my hands locked up in chains
I'm against the grain (Yeah, come on), against the grain (Yeah, come on)
I spend my life (I spend my life) against the grain (Against the grain)
I'm against the grain (Yeah, come on), against the grain (Yeah, come on)
I spend my life (I spend my life) against the grain (Against the grain)

I've been searching for true love but many times been let down
So it's no love lost and no love found
I just keep my head high, fake a smile and stand proud
Let my light guide my way until they put me in the ground
I've been bound by my glory that I found within myself
The way I touch other souls from the stories that I tell
Some are good, some are bad, some are downright evil
Had to overcome my past and still I ride for my people
Like an eagle on a hunt, but at times I self-destruct
And if you ever cross them lines, then you better pack a lunch
And if you ever touch mine then in time you gon' see
What it's like to pay the price and ain't nothing free
I been running and hiding and ducking and dodging, trying to escape my sorrows
I been lost inside and lost my mind, my pride I had to swallow
And if I live to see tomorrow, will I see much clearer skies?
Will these tears finally vanish if I wipe 'em from my eyes?
I been stuck in the wind, stuck in the pen, my heart filled up with pain
I been lost in sin once again; Lord, come take these reins
'Cause I can't pretend I go to sleep without no kinda shame
But I dream a better life and I hope for better days
Rest my soul up on that mountain top and overlook them plains
With this outlaw blood, I feel it oozing in my veins
I never point the finger 'cause who am I to blame? It's
All part of life, I always been against the grain, come on

I wear my hands down to the bone just to make me a little pay
Never had no place to call my home, always had to go against the grain
I couldn't find love on a dead-end road and my heart's been tore to pain
Had many a ride in the back of a car with my hands locked up in chains
I'm against the grain (yeah, come on), against the grain (yeah, come on)
I spend my life (I spend my life) against the grain (against the grain)
I'm against the grain (yeah, come on), against the grain (yeah, come on)
I spend my life (I spend my life) against the grain (against the grain)

Hello?
Hello, this is a prepaid collect call from Joe
An inmate at Warren Correctional Institution
This call is subject to [?]

'Cause these hard times made a strong mind, been a
Long road for a long time, I been
Through hell, I been baptized, I been
Better known as the bad guy, I was
Locked up, I been chained down, I been
Sky high, never came down, I been
Loved good, I been hated hard, but it's
Understood, it's how you play your cards

These hard times made a strong mind, been a
Long road for a long time, I been
Through hell, I been baptized, I been
Better known as the bad guy, I was
Locked up, I been chained down, I been
Sky high, never came down, I been
Loved good, I been hated hard, but it's
Understood, it's how you play your cards