[Verse 1]
I swung by his place, hadn't seen him in weeks
Same ol’ recliner, same muddy boots on his feet
He cracked one open, handed me the spare
Said, “Ain’t much changed ‘round here”
We talked ‘bout huntin’, our high school days
Then the mood got quiet in that usual way
He stared through the smoke, took a long slow breath
And said, “Man, can I ask somethin’ I ain’t asked yet?”

[Chorus]
“Is there beer in Heaven?
Do they chill ‘em nice and cold?
Do they play ‘90s country
On an old worn radio?
Do the good ol’ boys still gather
When the sun drops low?
And do they raise one up
For the ones below?
Yeah, I know there’s peace and angels up there prayin’
But is there beer in Heaven?”

[Verse 2]
I laughed at first, then I saw his face
He wasn’t jokin’ — just hopin’ that’s the place
Where lost dogs run, and trucks don’t break
And the ones we miss are at that lake
He said, “If there’s a God who knows me well
He’ll have a Yeti cooler and a stringer to tell
‘Cause I’ve lived loud, I’ve prayed soft
And I’m countin’ on grace when the lights go off”

[Chorus]
“Is there beer in Heaven?
Do they toast to Friday nights?
Do the stars shine brighter
In a campfire light?
Can you fish all day
And stay out ‘til two?
Will they save a seat
For a guy like you?
I ain’t askin’ for much, Lord knows I’ve been waitin’…
But is there beer in Heaven?”

[Bridge]
Maybe Heaven’s more than harps and gates
Maybe it’s a field and a tailgate
With a toast to love, a toast to loss
A cooler full, and no last call

[Final Chorus – Big Power Note]
“Is there beer in Heaven?
Do they know the songs we sang?
Do they play some Brooks, some Church, some Hank?
Do the scars we earned all fade away?
Do the tears we cried mean more someday?
Yeah, I’ll walk that line if it’s part of the plan
But I hope there’s a beer up there in my hand…”

[Outro – Acoustic fade]
He tipped his can, said, “Guess we’ll see when I get there, man…”
June 26, 2025 at 6:48 PM

Is There Beer in Heaven?

Crank it up—“Back to the Basics of God” brings a Southern Rock edge and Country Pop soul to a timeless spiritual truth. With gritty guitars, driving rhythm, and a voice that walks the line between backroad swagger and Sunday morning conviction, this song calls us to shake off the distractions of modern life and realign with what truly matters.

It’s faith over fame. Purpose over paycheck. And a bold reminder that God’s Word still lights the way—whether you're in church pews or stuck in traffic.

With a sound that lands somewhere between Luke Combs, Brantley Gilbert, and Zach Williams, this anthem is for believers who want a little grit with their grace.

Gotta Get Back to the Basics


[Verse 1]
Buddy called, said, “Whatcha into?”
I said, “Piddlin’ — messin’ with the A/C, too
Lookin’ at a car I’ll never buy
Wrote a line or two, let the day slide by”

[Verse 2]
Stared out the window, cracked a grin
Filmed a hummin’ bird buzzin’ in the wind
Helped pull a golf cart out the mud
Found a Fireball, gave it a tug

[Chorus]
Ain’t done much, but it’s feelin’ right
Call it killin’ time, I call it life
Ain’t rich, but hell — I’m paid
In slow days, sun rays, and lemonade

[Bridge]
Started a book, forgot the plot
Think it’s ‘bout a girl or maybe not

[Chorus – repeat]
Ain’t done much, but it’s feelin’ right
Call it killin’ time, I call it life
Ain’t rich, but hell — I’m paid
In slow days, sun rays, and lemonade

[Outro – spoken or sung]
Found a Fireball under the seat…
Ate it.
Good day.

Slow Days, Sun Rays, and Lemonade

I’m JD Hodge — Oklahoma-born, red dirt-raised, and songwriting for over 30 years.

In 2024, I flatlined on an operating table. Cardiac arrest. Everything changed.

When I came back, the words came with me — like they’d been waiting their turn. Since then, the songs haven’t stopped. I write what’s real: struggle, hope, grit, and grace — stories meant to be felt.

You’ll hear pieces of my past, my people, and the kind of heartland truth you can’t fake. These songs aren’t just mine — they’re for anyone who’s fought through silence and still found a voice.

Retired • Lyricist • Country • Americana • Acoustic Soul
Oklahoma, USA

Most of my music centers on Jesus Christ and God’s amazing grace. I primarily write in the Country Christian style, but every now and then I like to branch out when the mood strikes. You might hear touches of alternative Christian rock (I did grow up in the ’60s and ’70s), contemporary gospel, or even a hint of bluegrass gospel along the way. From time to time, I also step outside faith-based music into modern bluegrass or country.

One of my current projects is an album inspired by poems I wrote to my wife while she was deployed during Desert Storm in 1991. After all these years, I’m finally adapting them into songs — a project that’s been close to my heart for decades.

I was fortunate to play bass and sometimes piano in my late teens and early twenties for a country gospel group known as The Gospel Crusaders. We performed primarily at churches across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Then life happened, and I stepped away from performing for almost 50 years. During this time, I started focusing more on writing lyrics and music. In 2017, I picked up my mandolin and joined God’s Country in Largo, Florida. The group disbanded in 2023 when several members moved out of state, but we’re planning a reunion performance in 2026.

Even when I venture beyond my main focus of sharing the gospel through song, I strive to keep my lyrics honest, heartfelt, and sometimes just plain fun. Believe it or not, I’m not in this to make money — I write as an outlet to share the stories and experiences of life over the past 70 years. I write the lyrics for most of my songs, though I’ve been blessed to collaborate with a few talented friends along the way.

I use Studio One to produce my music and have built a large library of loops over the years. Some vocals are mine; others are performed by friends. And yes, I also use AI-generated voices or enhancements to vocals when needed.  I am in my 7th decade on earth and my voice doesn’t have the range it once had, plus I don’t have immediate access to female vocalists.  There’s a lot of debate about AI in music, but for me, the goal has never changed — to spread God’s love and joy. Technology is simply a tool, much like the studio innovations that have shaped music for the past fifty years.

In today’s music, many well-known and touring artists now use pre-recorded tracks and digital stems during live concerts to fill out harmonies, recreate orchestral parts, or trigger sound effects — it’s all part of modern performance. Whether it’s a backing track on stage or an AI vocal line in the studio, the heart behind the music still matters most.

I don’t believe AI will ever replace real musicians, but those who learn to embrace it and use it to enhance their craft will continue to flourish in the music industry.

I play bass, trumpet, guitar, piano, mandolin, and I’m currently working to get up to speed on the fiddle. You may not agree with my take on AI, and that’s okay. My purpose isn’t profit — it’s to share the message of God’s love through whatever tools I have, whether that’s a guitar, a loop, or an algorithm that helps me clean up a mix.

As W. Edwards Deming once said,
“It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory.”

Technology will keep evolving, and so will we. My greatest hope is that one of these songs touches someone’s heart or makes a difference in their life. If God can use even one of them to do that, then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.

God bless you all.

New tracks tagged #lukecombsstyle