Graveyard Gravel

[Verse 1]
Got a letter from the lawyer
With my daddy’s crooked ring
Keys to a rusted pickup
And a map of everything
Followed that red ink river
To a fence of busted rail
Where the earth looked freshly shaken
Like it just exhaled
[Pre-Chorus]
Wind kept draggin’ my name
Through the dust like a chain
Every step a little heavier
Like the dirt knew my shame
[Chorus]
I’m kickin’ up graveyard gravel
On a road I shouldn’ta found
Every secret that we buried
Clawin’ up from underground
Hear that old land groan my sins
In a low
Long
Midnight hymn
Yeah
The past rides in the saddle
While I choke on graveyard gravel (oh)
While I choke on graveyard gravel
[Verse 2]
Found his flask and busted lighter
By a half-dug
Crooked hole
Boot prints circlin’ in madness
Like a dance around a soul
Saw my own tread in the pattern
From a night I drank away
Just a flash of red and metal
Then the world went gray
[Pre-Chorus]
Thunder spelling my crime
In a blaze ‘cross the sky
Every shadow lookin’ right at me
Like it knew that I lied
[Chorus]
I’m kickin’ up graveyard gravel
On a road I shouldn’ta found
Every secret that we buried
Clawin’ up from underground
Hear that old land groan my sins
In a low
Long
Midnight hymn
Yeah
The past rides in the saddle
While I choke on graveyard gravel (hey)
While I choke on graveyard gravel
[Bridge]
There’s a cross of twisted rebar
Where the ditch still holds the stain
And the trees lean in to listen
When I try to speak his name
If forgiveness has a footpath
It ain’t marked on this old land
Just the sound of distant voices
Sayin’
“Son
You understand”
[Chorus]
I’m kickin’ up graveyard gravel
On a road I always knew
Every tire mark and teardrop
Leadin’ straight back here to you
Hear that old land groan my sins
In a low
Long
Midnight hymn
Yeah
The past rides in the saddle
While I choke on graveyard gravel
(Graveyard gravel, oh)
I’m goin’ down with graveyard gravel

folk, Dark orchestral country hybrid with male vocals: low-tuned acoustic and baritone guitar in unison on the main riff, stomping floor toms and bowed bass pulsing like a slow march. Ominous string swells creep in on pre-chorus and bloom in the hook, with a distant male choir shadowing key lines. Verses stay dry and close-mic’d; choruses widen with reverb and double-tracked lead, slight grit on the vocal. Dramatic stops and held notes at the ends of phrases to let the room breathe., male vocals, country, low, acoustic, orchestral