My Newbie is Showing...Part 3

30DBC: Song of the Heart

Music Monday!

Tell us about a certain memory that is triggered whenever you hear a specific song. Was the song actually playing at that moment, or is it something in the lyrics or the music itself that jogs your memory?


The song that stops me in my tracks and evokes emotions all over the place is One Hell Of An Amen by Brantley Gilbert.

The first verses are about parents laying to rest their soldier son. I write to deployed military and that one just gets me right there. My relatives that are currently in the military or who are veterans is in the double digits. I keep thinking, but for the grace of God, that song could be about someone I know. It is very haunting.

The second verses are about someone dying of cancer. If I am not in tears by this verse, I soon will be. These verses always bring to mind my mother and my sister who did not win their battle with cancer. I have these little snapshots in the memories of my heart as they moved from hopeful determination to beat this thing to quiet acceptance that they would not win and they had to get their affairs in order.

I always stop what I am doing and sing along to this song. I always change the words in the second hook to mama or My sister instead of my friend. And I always change Hell of an Amen to One Big Amen. Hell is not even on the same playing field as Heaven. I will not give it that status even if the song is not "meant" to be like that. I just cannot consecrate those I love to Hell.


Preacher said he died too young
Over there totin' that gun
For Uncle Sam and our freedom
Mom and Daddy dressed in black
They folded up that flag
Handed it dad, and started prayin'
Yeah he went out twenty one guns blazin'

That's one hell of an amen
That's the only way to go
Fightin' the good fight
Til the good Lord calls you home
And so be well my friend
'Til I see you again
This is our last goodbye
It's a hell of an amen, amen

Doctor said he ain't got long
He just smiled said bring it on
Well if you think I'm scared
You got me all wrong
No a little cancer can't break me
My heart's right and I believe
We all hit our knees
And started prayin'
Naw he never gave up
Said the good Lord's waitin'

And that's one hell of an amen
That's the only way to go
Fightin' the good fight
Til the good Lord calls you home
So be well my friend
'Til I see you again
Yeah this is our last goodbye
It's a hell of an amen

So be well my friend
'Til I see you again
This is our last goodbye
But it's a hell of an amen, amen, that's a hell of amen

Read more: Brantley Gilbert - One Hell Of An Amen Lyrics | MetroLyrics