[Intro] (4 bars)

Steel strings crying like a midnight rain,

I’ve been stuck between mercy and blame.

⸻

[Verse 1]

I learned my lessons with a crowd of ghosts,

Cheap motel sins and Sunday clothes.

Heaven felt far, hell felt close,

Every mile marker said I told you so.

I wore my sins like second skin,

Swore I’d quit, then I’d begin

Spoke to God like an old friend,

Then I walked away too soon

to know where i should go

or where he’s been

⸻

[Pre-Chorus]

Too scared of grace to let it in,

Too proud to fall, too tired to win.

⸻

[Chorus] (HOOK)

I’m escaping the in between

One scar, one prayer at a time,

Learning mercy gets lost and forgiveness still sees your crimes.

Yeah I’ve been walking that thin line,

Between who I was and who I ain’t, Lord knows—

I’m leaving purgatory,

And I ain’t afraid of the fire no more

it’s God who write’s my story

when my knees hit the floor.

⸻

[Verse 2]

Old Bible gathering dust on the shelf,

Pages bent to hide the shape of myself.

It kept whisperin’ something ‘bout hope,

While I chased the night and fled the light.

Every tear I tried to drown

Learned how to swim but pulled me down,

Now I hear hallelujahs in the sound

of drum beats keeping rhythm and time,

I’m finding peace in the fight.

yes it’s alright to fight the fight

be strong it’s alright.

You’ll be free tonight.

⸻

[Pre-Chorus]

Faith don’t come clean,

It breaks… then it breathes.

⸻

[Chorus] (repeat)

I’m leaving the in between

One scar, one prayer at a time…

(same as above)

⸻

[Bridge] (ska feel – lighter, hopeful)

Redemption found a rhythm in my chest,

Upbeat grace in the middle of the mess.

I ain’t clean, I ain’t fixed, it’s true,

But I finally stopped runnin’ from You.

⸻

[Final Chorus] (lift + hold last line)

I’m escaping the in between

With these hands lifted high,

Found out peace ain’t painless

It just don’t let you die.

I’ve been living in the ashes,

But truth walks out of the flame—

I’m leaving purgatory

In the holy heat of grace.

⸻

[Outro] (short)

Steel drums beat like a morning bell,

I ain’t heaven-bound, I ain’t in hell,

But tonight I found something real.