Raised on Whiskey & Warnings

I was born on the edge of a busted town

Where the porch lights flicker and the law don’t come around

Mama raised a fighter with a Bible and a switch

Daddy left a bottle and a don’t-give-a-shit

I learned to cuss before I learned to pray

Skipped the silver spoon, took the long damn way

Got scars like stories, and a smirk that sticks

Middle finger up in all my baby pics

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I was raised on whiskey and warnings

Burnin’ daylight and breakin’ the morning

Every bruise, every shot, every sin

Made me the man that I’m livin’ in

I ain’t clean, but I ain’t ashamed

Just a hell-bound boy with a rebel name

I don’t need no saving grace

I was raised on whiskey and warnings — and I still love the taste

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Learned to fight on gravel and make out in cornfields

Backseat love with the windows fogged and no guilt

Taught to run when the lights flash red and blue

And lie straight-faced like the good boys do

Mama cried when I packed that bag

Said “The world’s full of devils in a preacher’s drag”

But I got boots and I got flame

And I’ll burn this life in my daddy’s name

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I was raised on whiskey and warnings

Where the saints are gone and the nights get stormy

Every bruise, every lie, every grin

Carved into the leather of the life I’m in

I ain’t right, but I sure as hell ride

Like a shotgun dream with a darker side

I ain’t askin’ for no parade

I was raised on whiskey and warnings — and I ain’t ever gonna change

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Tell me I’m reckless, say I’m too far gone

But I’m the song you hum when your halo’s gone

I ain’t perfect, hell, I’m barely tame

But I own every ghost that wears my name

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Yeah, I was raised on whiskey and warnings

Raised on red dirt scars and storm winds forming

Every fight, every fire, every sin

Etched in the skin that I’m livin’ in

I ain’t scared of fallin’ or flame

I’ll go out how I came — unchained

Let ‘em write it on my grave:

“He was raised on whiskey and warnings — and never once behaved.”