I remember daddy held the Bible like a gun 

Back when I was a Pentecostal gospel preacher's son 

And I still can see the fire and brimstone in his eyes 

When he preached to people in a tent, repent before you die 

Me I'd sneak out back with some saintly, southern girl 

And there I'd teach her the ways of this world



Well, I guess I was way too wild to be the child of a preacher man 

One foot on a solid rock and one on the sinking sand 

Just like the prodigal son, I guess, I got way too lost 

Living somewhere in between the devil and the cross 



I was daddy's worst nightmare by the time I turned eighteen 

Baptized in a whiskey river on the streets of New Orleans 

Where the demons, drugs and rock and roll, they seemed to clog my mind 

And women were a weakness for weeks at a time 

I learned the hard way, what you reap is what you sew 

So in silent desperation, one night I headed home 



Well, I guess I was way too wild to be the child of a preacher man 

One foot on a solid rock with one on the sinking sand 

Just like the prodigal son, I guess, I got way too lost 

Living somewhere in between the devil and the cross 



Daddy, did more than talk the talk, he walked the walk in life 

He loved me and forgave me when I came home that night 

He said, "Son, don't ever be ashamed for God forgives the lost. 

We all live somewhere in between the devil and the cross." 



Lord, I guess I was way too wild to be the child of a preacher man 

One foot on a solid rock and one on that sinking sand 

Just like the prodigal son, I guess, I got way too lost 

Living somewhere in between the devil and the cross