Room 17. One Bible. One long night wondering whether grace knows the address.
Room 17. One Bible. One long night wondering whether grace knows the address.
Vacancy sign keeps buzzin', Like a prayer nobody heard. Room 17, one chair, one Bible, And a man who's lost for words.
There's a water stain above me Shaped like Tennessee. Curtains haven't seen the sunlight Since sometime in '93. There's a Gideon in the nightstand, Dust along the spine. Funny how you reach for heaven When you're running out of time. I poured the last of that bottle Down a rusted bathroom drain. Watched it disappear like promises I've made and broke again.
God don't live at this motel, Least that's what I used to say. He ain't underneath these neon lights Where broken people stay. But if He walks through locked doors, If He knows me half this well, Maybe grace can find a sinner Even at this motel.
There's a woman down in Georgia I ain't called in seven years. She'd probably know my voice Before I got through ‘Mama, I'm still here.’ There's another one who loved me Till loving me hurt too much. I blamed the road, blamed the bottle, Anything but what I'd done. I've been good at disappearing. I can leave before daylight. But you can't outrun your shadow When you're sleeping with the light.
I ain't asking for a miracle. I ain't asking to forget. Just give me enough morning To start paying off my debts. And if forgiveness has a doorway, I don't need to see it wide. Just leave it cracked enough For a hardheaded man To make it through tonight.
Maybe God lives at this motel, Maybe He's been here all night. Maybe He was in that Bible, Maybe He was in that light. Maybe heaven ain't just somewhere For the ones who never fell. Maybe grace comes looking for you At a nowhere roadside motel. Yeah, maybe grace comes looking for you When you can't forgive yourself.
Vacancy sign quit buzzin'. Sunrise found the blinds. Room 17 ain't heaven... But I made it through the night.