They say that it's all about the next time around,
Then my only question is, what about now?
"in GOD we trust" with all our heads bowed
Unfortunately it’s wasn’t “achievement” that we crowned
the preacher-man says it'll all be okay
but i don't see -him- on the street…walk with me, okay?

single parent homes. Look, the father's a mother
the son's both a father and a husband under cover
cause mama needs a man and these men out here?
ain't worth the time to tell 'em "get from 'round here!"
so they confide in each other, he helps raise the kids
she say they don't need his father, but the truth of it is
they both need him now more than ever
there’s clouds in his mama’s eyes and he’s under the weather
so mama talks to Christ everyday before bed
while her son looks for love, can you hear what he said?
he says: "...life's so hard and it only gets harder
I need to make money and the drugs're lookin smarter.”
He goes to church with mom and his knees hit the ground
Being “born again” sounds like a second time around
He needs a new beginning. The cards are player’s bust
they don’t know what else to do, they say "in GOD we trust"

the Momma bout forty-some and her body’s slowin down
the friends that used to kick it no longer come around
her blood flow’s slowed and the baby’s getting older
the other side of the bed feels so much colder
the child support’s comin, but it’s on the irregular
and every man that says “hi” is extra-regular
Respects herself too much to undress for tips
But can’t make it as a waitress and comes home pissed
She doesn’t have time for the childish fights
And her babies’ daddy seems like he’s doing alright
Reality sets in with his cousin Depression
And the pills can only help with so much stressing
Now the anthem is that “in GOD we trust”
But really what it’s printed on what’s the must
Now the preacher keeps telling her to wait on a blessing
But not even he can say where her life is headin

The father who wasn’t…he’s got a couple of kids
But he couldn’t tell you where a single one of them is
His babies’ mama’s stressing...
He’s swamped by bill collectin…
but he’ll never let ‘em see him sweat -
he walks like he has no regrets
as everything that’s on his chest
builds beyond the point of “stress”
he knows it’s he who’s built his bed
but even he can’t stand the mess…
Now he’s doin a little too much
His body can’t keep, it straight says “tough”
He has a nervous breakdown, he can’t get up
…mentally. Only way to look is up…
But, yet he still sinks deep into despair,
Til the sleeping pills look like a way out of here
But, lo and behold, his babies’ mom is gold
She sticks by his side, gives him a hand to hold
Now there’s six of them that fight. As she holds his hand tight
They pray “In God we trust” each and every single night

…it’s the second time around and every thing will be alright…


(that story was more or less based off of actual events in my life. I took a bit of creative license, though mostly just with the timeline. Only blatant difference was that they were married. The “in God we trust” was added as well for effect and central theme. This is just my take on “The Second Time Around”. Those were our second times around. If you notice there’s only one who’s second time isn’t completed. She’s doin pretty good and it’s getting better. Amen)