The Blood of Duke Perkins

Verse 1 Born in the dust of a nameless dawn, Under a sky where the black crows mourn, Duke Perkins, tall as a splintered oak, Hands already hardened before he ever spoke. Day labor for hell or the Lord above, Carpenter, gravedigger, built out of love, He carried the world on his broad, scarred back, For a fistful of coins and a supper sack. Pre-Chorus The wind would whisper, “Boy, choose your side…” But Duke swore only to blood and pride. Chorus Oh Duke Perkins, dark heart under weathered hide, Shadow with clear eyes, nowhere to hide, If he’s gotta stain his hands in mud or blood, He’ll do it steady, cold as a flood. To guard his own, he’d damn his soul, ’Cause a family’s worth more than silver or gold. Verse 2 Boot soles worn on iron roads, Sun burned his skin, heavy as stone, Every dollar soaked in sweat and pain, To keep his children safe from the rain. But when night fell on the frozen plains, And greedy men came with debts and chains, They learned real quick what ain’t allowed: You don’t touch his kin — not while Duke stands proud. Pre-Chorus One sharp gunshot splits the night, And the wind carries off their fading fight. Chorus Oh Duke Perkins, dark heart under weathered hide, Shadow with clear eyes, nowhere to hide, If he’s gotta stain his hands in mud or blood, He’ll do it steady, cold as a flood. To guard his own, he’d damn his soul, ’Cause a family’s worth more than silver or gold. Bridge (low, gravelly voice) He prays little, speaks even less, Every scar carved from bitterness, Hell might already know his name, But he’d walk through fire just the same. Final Chorus (stronger, raw) Oh Duke Perkins, titan of scorched land, Sin on his shoulders, loyalty in his hands, Let the wolves howl out his blame, Let the night call out his name, He’ll stand tall till his final breath, A father. A rock. Unafraid of death. Outro And when the dust lays on his grave, The wind will whisper through the sage: “Here lies a man without a crown, Who ruled for his own — and never bowed down.”