cheap grace

written by evan young & grant michaelson

mrs dillard shook my hand with both of hers said we have been praying for your little band you were beside the coffee urn in that blue dress trying not to laugh when i said well, fuck, thanks, maam some kid spilled grape juice on my left boot your brother wouldnt look me in the eye i stole two powdered donuts from the folding table you said dont start, and i said ill try

every man with a mic had a clean white smile and a secret he kept in the dark i could smell the lie from the back row i just never saw yours coming that hard

cheap grace, passing out by the door cheap grace, keep a little more for the men who say love but mean behave she wasnt lying. that is the part that stays. cheap grace, i can laugh at the show cheap grace, i can call what i know she just picked heaven. and i wasnt the way. that is a hell of a thing to hear somebody pray.

you kept a bible under the passenger seat next to jumper cables and a cracked cd case we were parked behind the old movie theater rain coming sideways across the glass you had both hands wrapped around that paper cup gas station cocoa gone cold between your knees you said i dont think god hates you, evan then looked down like you hated having to leave

i said is this your dad, is this your church you said no, so quiet i almost believed then you kissed my cheek like i was somebody sick and drove home with my smoke in your seats

cheap grace, passing out by the door cheap grace, keep a little more for the men who say love but mean behave she wasnt lying. that is the part that stays. cheap grace, i can laugh at the show cheap grace, i can call what i know she just picked heaven. and i wasnt the way. that is a hell of a thing to hear somebody pray.

i wanted you mean. i wanted a text from somebody else. i wanted mascara on a strangers shirt, wanted anything i could hang on you. but you sent back my jacket washed and folded. you wrote i hope you play forever. no address. no postscript. just that stupid little heart over the i.

so keep your cheap grace the kind that costs me everything and makes you look so clean keep your cheap grace

cheap grace, passing out by the door cheap grace, i dont want it anymore save it for the men who say love but mean behave she wasnt lying. that is the part that stays. cheap grace, i still know her face cheap grace, i still leave her space she just picked heaven. and i wasnt the way. and i still hear her saying my name when i play.

i hope you play forever yeah i do