Testo: Rodney Crowell. Houston Kid. The Rock of My Soul.

The rock of my soul went to church on Sunday
The rock of my soul went to work on Monday
Clean across the levy by the railroad tracks
The other side of Houston in a two room shack
Sweeping out confetti from a third grade classroom
The rock of my soul pushed a dust mop broom

The rock of my soul didn't have much luck
He came to town grinnin' on a flat bed truck
The rock of my soul didn't have much charm
With the lack of education on a red dirt farm
And he was fond of disappearing on an eight day drunk
Coming home smelling like a low down skunk

And he said

I do like I say
Not like I do and you might make me proud
Another Houston Kid
On a downhill skid for crying out loud

I'm a first hand witness to an age old crime
A man who hits a woman isn't worth a dime
5, 6, 7, 8, 9 years old
That's what I remember about the rock of my soul
I told him I would kill him if he did not stop it
But the rock of my soul just would not drop it

I learned to lie like dirt
I could steal your shirt and talk with a gun
Another Houston Kid
On a downhill skid like father like son

Now I got out of prison 'bout a year ago
Seven long years really went by slow
I didn't kill my daddy but my momma tried
She shot him with a pistol and he like to a died
I'm on probation living straight and true
And there's every indication that the past is through

That's all I know
'Bout the rock of my soul