Read the story behind the song — My First Country Song
Honorable Mention — American Songwriter March/April 2017 Lyric Contest
I was six years old, underneath the old shade tree.
I knew that copperhead was gonna be the death of me.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t run.
I knew that I was good as done.
But then his boot came fast and his aim was true.
He said, “Come on, little brother!” Then I knew:
I had a champion
Who could crush a serpent’s head.
He was my brother,
Who, when I was good as dead,
Saw me crying in the backyard
With my back against the tree.
He became the death of all that was the death of me.
I have a champion.
For when I was good as dead,
He crushed the serpent’s head.
It was after school, where the teachers couldn’t see.
The schoolyard bully had me pinned against a tree.
His snakeskin boots and his fists drew blood.
I closed my eyes and heard the thud
When his boot came fast and his aim was true
He said, “Get off my brother!” Then I knew:
I had a champion
Who could crush a serpent’s head
He was my brother,
Who, when I was good as dead,
Saw me beaten on the playground
With my back against a tree.
He became the death of all that was the death of me.
I have a champion.
For when I was good as dead,
He crushed the serpent’s head.
When the war began, it wasn’t long ‘til he deployed.
A real G.I. Joe, gone to see Cobra destroyed.
Then uniforms, with news to tell,
Said, “I’m sorry, ma’am. He served us well.”
Now his boots were still and his days were through.
He was my big brother. What would I do?
Daddy sat down underneath the old shade tree.
With the Good Book opened, he held me on his knee.
He said, “Now I will weep and I will grieve,
But I mourn with hope, ’cause I believe:
“I have a Champion
Who has crushed the Serpent’s head.
He is my Brother,
Who, when I was good as dead,
He saw me dying in the Garden.
So He died upon the Tree
To be the death of all that was the death of me.
I have a champion!
He will raise us from the dead—
For he crushed the Serpent’s head!”
Written by Eric Schumacher and Jeff Bourque ©2014 emschumacher.com / Manicotti Music | All rights reserved.