A LOVE AS TOUGH AS NAILS

Lyric by Stan C. Countz

VERSE 1
Before I knew the Lord / I was a man whore, thief and hustler
I used, cussed and swore / and I’d steal from my own mother
I was rotten to the core / even now it makes me shudder
The day I called upon the Lord / He pulled me out of the gutter
He’s my shield and my sword / to Him I kneel and no other
I’ve been healed by the Lord / His praises will I utter
His name will I adore / He’s my banner and my cover
When I opened up the door / there was more to discover

CHORUS
His love never fails; He’s the wind in my sails
He’s my wheel, my rails and my rudder
His blood bought me and His love taught me
How to serve and love my brother
If I should wake up in jail / If I can’t earn my bread n butter
If I can’t make my bail / Help me to rediscover
A love as tough as nails / so help me clear away the clutter
Love hopes and never fails and sticks closer than a brother

BRIDGE
He sought me and He found me drowning in stormy seas
He fills me and surrounds me with a newfound peace
His blood bought me and He brought me to my knees
He said I did it to Him when I did it for the least of these
He cast my sin into the deepest sea
As far as east is from west and west is from east
I’ve been asked to be a guest at His wedding feast
I feel like a prisoner that’s just been released
He took the rap for the greatest and the least
When He died on that cross between the thieves
With arms open wide, He sighed as He cried
“Forgive them, Father, for their unbelief”

CHORUS/OUTRO
His love never fails; He’s the wind in my sails
He’s my wheel, my rails and my rudder
His blood bought me and His love taught me
How to serve and love my brother
If I should wake up in jail / if I can’t earn my bread n butter
If I can’t make my bail / help me to rediscover
A love as tough as nails / so help me clear away the clutter
Love hopes and never fails and sticks closer than a brother

HIS LOVE IS TOUGH AS NAILS

© by Stan C. Countz Nov. 2009

VERSE 1
Along life’s highway, people lie and never say
What they choose to conceal
Doubt and hate get in the way without the faith to watch and pray
They refuse to be saved and healed

SHORT CHORUS
I don’t believe in holy grails or Don Quixote’s fairy tales
I believe in His love only… He won’t leave you lonely
His love, it never fails; His love is tough as nails, it’s tough as nails

VERSE 2
Have you seen those magazines? The ones with all the beauty queens?
I wonder what’s fake and what’s real?
Awake or in our dreams, it ain’t the way it seems
One day the truth will be revealed

PRE-CHORUS
When I see you on the street, I can still feel the heat
I’m not a man of steel; my heart still skips a beat
One day our souls will meet on golden streets
My heart will heal and mend and I’ll be free
Free to love again, but ‘til then…

LONG CHORUS
I don’t believe in holy grails; Don Quixote’s fairy tales
I believe in His love only… He won’t leave you lonely
His love, it never fails; His love is tough as nails
Amidst tempests, storms and gales, this quest for love prevails
So turn from sin and learn of Him, He’s the wind in your sails
Don’t trade your soul for a pot of gold ‘cuz the scroll will be unveiled
He’s made for us a home / our sin has been atoned
So bow before His throne / you’re now one of His own
‘Cuz His love, it never fails; His love is tough as nails

OUTRO
I don’t believe in holy grails, snips and snails and puppy dog tails
So mind the ship and set the sails, fix the drips, mend the rails
Before the ship tips the scales and we end up with Happy Trails
Remember this… God’s love it never fails; it’s tough as nails

THOSE HAPPY DAYS

by Stan C. Countz

INTRO
Back when I was a kid, just growin’ up
Didn’t have much, but what we had was enough
Girls wore curls and boys played rough
Played with Tinker toys and Tonka trucks

VERSE 1
Before Obama and McCain, Kanye West and Lil’ Wayne
Our quest for drama came from Superman and Lois Lane
Gary Cooper and John Wayne, Bandstand and Soul Train
Orson Wells in Citizen Kane and Gene Kelly singin’ in the rain

CHORUS
We’ve come a long way, baby, since those Happy Days
If our kids had been around, they’dve been amazed
Had it made in the shade if we kept up our grades
It was a simpler time and a slower pace
We looked our friends right in the face
Had no place for “YouTube” or” MySpace”
Tatoos were taboo; only cowboys cried “Yahoo”
Lost on Gilligan’s Island and Lost in Space

VERSE 2
We loved Betty Boop and Betty Davis, Gary Cooper and John Wayne
Superman would fly to save us; loved the Saturday movie matinee
Mom and Dad never had to pay us; Mighty Mouse came to save the day
Prayed to the One who made us; we all knew that "Jesus Saves"
We believed that He forgave us; loved Micky Mantel and Willy Mays
We thought they were the greatest; loved Dear Abby and Gabby Hayes
Jed, Jethro, Granny and Ellie May; Lucille Ball and Doris Day
Lou Rawls and Marvin Gaye; do you recall that day in the motorcade?
The day they shot JFK…

VERSE 3
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
Poppin’ wheelies and layin’ rubber
The whole family sittin’ down for supper
We didn’t need an upper
The Nutty Professor and Flubber
And who could forget Scarlett and Rhett
That Chevy Chevette we drove that summer
We loved the thunder and Stevie Wonder
Thumper and Bambi’s mother

CHORUS
We’ve come a long way, baby, since those Happy Days
If our kids had been around, they’dve been amazed…

VERSE 4
“Livin’ together” was “livin’ in sin”
“AIDS” were in the school office
“Made in Japan” meant “made of tin”
No one drove a “rice rocket”
Left our keys in the ignition
And never thought to lock it
Loved Lucy, Lassie and Rin Tin Tin
Judy, Daffy and Nestle’s Chocolate

VERSE 5
“Pot” was somethin’ we bought to cook in
If you weren’t there, I wouldn’t knock it
Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn
Davy Jones and Davy Crockett
Lil Orphan Annie, Jimmy Durante and Errol Flynn
Stuck together as a family and together we would win
But those Happy Days, my friend, they’re Gone with the Wind
Those Happy Days are Gone with the Wind

OUTRO
It was a simpler time and slower pace
We looked our friends right in the face
Had no place for Youtube or MySpace
Tatoos were taboo; only cowboys cried “Yahoo”
Glued to the boob tube watchin' Peyton Place
Today we can’t even say “grace”
Or use the Lord’s name (except in vain)
I believe we’ve gone insane
What would Gary Cooper and John Wayne say
If they only knew what we were gonna do
In these here United States?
To tell you the truth, they’d roll over in their grave…
What have we lost and what have we gained?
Was it worth the cost, was it worth the pain?
Like dusty rose petals, without a drop of rain
When the dust finally settles, what will still remain?

SHORT CHORUS
We’ve come a long way, baby, since those Happy Days
If our kids had been around, they’dve been amazed
So I decided to write it down before it all fades away
Before it all fades away…those Happy Days