WHEN COUNTRY WAS COUNTRY I WAS BORN IN THE 60'S

Transfer - part 2

Gold Country Vol1

Ashes on the Highway

This Is Houston
Lyrics By: Thomas W. Peterson AKA RedHeart 
 ©COPYRIGHT 10–30-2025 All Rights Reserved ©

Verse 1: I met her at the diner off of Highway 45 Something in her eyes told me she was barely getting by Long sleeves in the summer, always looking at the floor I knew the signs, I'd seen them in my mama years before She poured my coffee, tried to smile, but I could see the pain Houston's just a small town, word gets around, they know her husband's name

Verse 2: Started coming by most evenings just to make sure she was fine We'd talk about the weather, but I read between the lines One night I saw the bruises when her sleeve rode up her arm She said, "Please don't get involved, he's a dangerous man to cross or harm" But something in my heart had already made the call I told her, "Ma'am, a real man wouldn't hurt you at all"

Chorus: This is Houston, and I'm standing at your door I can't watch him hurt you anymore I know you barely know my name But I'd take a bullet to keep you safe from pain This is Houston, and I'm not backing down Even if it costs me everything I've found 'Cause love means standing in the fire This is Houston, and I'd die to set you free

Verse 3: We started meeting secretly down by the riverside She told me 'bout her dreams, all the tears she'd cried Said she married him at eighteen, thought that love was supposed to hurt Now she's trapped inside a prison, feels like she's lost all her worth I told her, "You deserve the moon and every single star Pack your things, I'll get you out, we'll drive away real far"

Verse 4: But he found out somehow, came looking for a fight Showed up at my trailer on a cold October night She called me right before, said "Houston, please just let it go" I said, "Darling, I can't do that, there's something you should know I'm in love with you, I have been from the start And I won't let him break what's left of your heart"

Bridge: I heard his truck pull up, heard him calling out my name Stepped out on that porch knowing nothing'd be the same He was drunk and he was angry, had his daddy's .45 She was screaming through the phone, "Houston, get back inside!" I said, "Sir, you need to leave her, let her start again" That's when I saw the muzzle flash, felt the fire, then the wind

Verse 5: They said I never had a chance, he shot me twice before I fell Died there in the gravel, but I saved her soul from hell He's locked up now for murder, she's finally free to breathe At my funeral she whispered, "You're the only man who ever believed"

Final Chorus: This was Houston, and he stood there at my door Said he couldn't watch him hurt me anymore He barely even knew my name But he took the bullet, took away my pain This was Houston, and he didn't back down Gave up everything he'd ever found 'Cause love means standing in the fire This was Houston, and he died to set me free

Outro (Spoken/Sung Softly): Now I listen to his voicemail every single night The last words that he left me before he lost the fight His voice comes through the speaker, and it breaks my heart in two He said...
(Spoken over gentle guitar) "Hey darling, it's me. I know you told me to stay out of it, but I can't. I've been thinking about what I wanted to say to you, and I guess it's pretty simple. I love you. I've loved you since that first cup of coffee. Whatever happens tonight, I need you to know that you're worth fighting for. You're worth everything. Don't you ever forget that. Don't be afraid anymore. You're gonna be alright now. I promise you that.
Hello... this is Houston."
(Music swells then fades to silence)


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