LYRICS RISING SON
THIS IS THE DAY
There’s this guy who pumps gas on the full serve island
He’s always got a big smile on his face
When your tank is low, or your soul’s running on empty
He’ll top you off and send you on your way
With a verse from the Good Book
Maybe Luke or John
That gas pumping gospel preacher
Loves to sing this song
This is the day the Lord has made, I’ll rejoice in it
It’s a day God has made, rejoice!
Sure, there are better jobs than this
But I’ll do mine with joy and happiness
This is the day the Lord has made, I’ll rejoice in it
It’s a day God has made, rejoice!
No pulpit and no Bible, just a squeegee and a rag
He’ll check your oil and wipe your windshield clean
As he airs up your tires that greasy one man choir
Bursts into some Psalm 118
Skeptics and cynics can’t help but sing along
It’s kind of contagious when he starts to sing this song
This is the day the Lord has made, I’ll rejoice in it
It’s a day God has made, rejoice!
With its hassles and reasons to complain
Work to do and bills we gotta pay
This is the day the Lord has made, I’ll rejoice in it
Another day God has made, rejoice!
Sure I’ve got problems, everybody does
This song may not solve them but I sing it just because
This is the day if I fall down
I’ll pick myself right off the ground
This is the day, rain or shine
No matter what I’m gonna be fine
This is the day, even if it pours
I’ll find a way weather the storm
This is the day and if it’s my last
I ain’t gonna live in the past
This is the day to finally say
This is the day,
This is the day,
This is the day
So if your gas tank is down to its last drop
Go see my buddy, and just say, just say fill me up
This is the day the Lord has made,
I’ll rejoice in it
It’s a day God has made,
rejoice
This is the day the Lord has made
Another day God has made, rejoice
This is the day the Lord has made
This is the day the Lord has made
Rejoice!
IDIOT
Fumbling around /
Flirting with you
Tripping on my tongue ‘cause from the start I knew
A girl like you was completely out of my league
It blew me away the day you said to me
Hey, idiot
Come on, dude, get a clue
Don’t you see I really like you too
There’s nothing else that I’d rather do
Than hang around with you
But you’re so completely missing it
You’re such an idiot
Years went by /
The kids grew up
Then they were gone and it was down to just us
We’d grown apart and I thought we might be through
Til at our very last session I heard it straight from you
Hey, idiot
Sure hate to break the news
But can’t you see I’m still in love with you
If you think I’d ever walk away
From the promises we made
Then how about just admitting it
You can be a real idiot
I’m still stumbling and fumbling
My way through this old life
The last thing I deserve’s the grace of God
Just imagine His frustration
With the mistakes that I’ve been making
I half expect he’s finally given up
Then it’s like a voice from up above
Says idiot
It’s me talking to you
Your Father, your Creator, and your friend
There’s no one else who knows you like I do
Don’t you get that I love you
Somehow you keep forgetting it
THANK YOU GOD
Remember that time I got down on my knees
Begging you please to lend a hand
I was amazed when it all turned out OK
Then me, I went my way and that was that
I’m not sure I took the time that day or if ever did say
Thank you God, so I think I’ll tell you now
Thank you God,
I’ll say it right out loud
Looking back wish I’d shown more gratitude
And I hope it’s not too late to thank you, God
In so many struggles you’ve gone to bat for me
Even when I couldn’t see that you were there
Whenever I lost hope and had nowhere to turn
And it looked I just didn’t have a prayer
Things would turn around, but how quickly I’d forget
When I should have gotten back on my down on my knees
To thank you God, how did I take you for granted?
Thank you God, how did I not understand
It was you behind the scenes, calling the shots
Now I just thought I ought to thank you God
Now this song is gonna serve as my reminder
To tell you each and every single day
Thank you God for blessing me the way you have
Thank you God for giving me more than I could ask
Even now
as I fold my hands to pray
What can I say but thank you God
For all the good things that you’ve done
Thank you God,
the Father and the Son
I won’t let
even one more day go by
Without taking the time to thank you God
Again and again, thank you God
All I can say is thank you God
HALLELUJAH
He was searching for salvation in a bottle of Jim Beam
One night full of whiskey he dropped down to his knees
Now it’s been six months and eleven days
Since he walked down to the shore
And flung that bottle out into the sea
Saying Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah,
Hallelujah
It was an endless sea of rubble /
Devastation everywhere
In spite of scars and injuries they raise their hands into the air
Tattered clothes and memories are all that they got left
Still they cry out in joy not misery
Singing Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
If it weren’t for mercy
I’d be up a creek
Instead, rivers of forgiveness
come washing over me
No need to cling to driftwood
Or drown in my regrets
No need to be afraid ‘cause I believe
And now I sing hallelujah, hallelujah,
hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
I GET TO
“I got to”
Those three words I grumble just like you
Saying I got to
I sigh and dread those things I gotta do
I’ve got to get up every morning
I’ve got to fight rush hour traffic
I’ve got to do that nine to five thing
I’ve got to pay my taxes
I don’t want to, but I’ve got to
Then it hits me just when I think I’ve got it pretty bad
How many folks would gladly take those burdens off my back
That big list of “I got to’s”that belongs to me and you
Has got a few things on it others wish they got to do
Then a little voice says it’s a choice
You can say I got to
Or you can say I get to
I get to go to work and put in a good eight hours
I get to cash a paycheck, get to have a job
Instead of looking for work or getting laid off
Sounds kind of simple, but it’s true
You can say I got to
Or you can say I get to
A dozen times
You circled around that jam packed parking lot
But half a mile away
Is where you found the closest empty spot
Here comes that old “I got to”
About how far you gotta walk
As the car door slams behind you
And you stomp on down the block
Now there you go
But don’t you know
You can say I got to
Or you can say I get to
I get to stretch my legs and get some exercise
‘Cause I guarantee there’s someone else out there
Who’d give anything to ditch that wheel chair
He’d gladly walk twice as far as you
So you can say I got to
Or you can say I get to
I know it’s just one letter out of three
But take that “o” and change it to “e”
Instead of saying I got to
Say I get to
And a lot of things might not seem all that bad
That traffic jam ain’t backed up quite so far
When you say I’m blessed I get to own a car
And property taxes I gotta pay
Are ‘cause I get to go home to a house each day
You’ll see things from a different point of view
When you quit saying I got to
And start saying I get to
Instead of I got to, I get to
No more I got to
I’m gonna say I get to
SAVED
She was a drug addicted hooker from other side of town
A couple kids from different fathers, neither one stuck around
They treated her like trash and that’s what she thought she was
Til the day she found that Bible and she opened it up
She read about redemption and forgiveness of sins
No matter what you’ve done, no matter where you’ve been
And one day she got down on her knees and she prayed
Lord, help me change my ways
Come into my heart
Forgive me and fill me with your grace
And she was saved
He sat there in a jail cell, surrounded by prison bars
That night from his bunk bed he cried out in the dark
The tattoos on my body ain’t gonna disappear
But I swear this is the last time
I’m ever coming here
Jesus, come rescue me
‘Cause I believe in who you are
Now they say he’s back in prison
But on the other side of the bars
And he prays with anyone who’ll listen, he prays
Saying put your faith in Him
Thanks to his love no crime that you’ve committed can keep you
From being saved
Saved by the power of God above
Saved, with his mercy and his love
Saved, by sweet amazing grace
Saved
A shiny brand new Porsche, parties, clubs and girls
Going home to some big penthouse, sitting on top of the world
They said he had it all but he didn’t have a thing
Covering up his emptiness
with name brands and bling
But now his old crowd calls him crazy
‘Cause they heard he sold that Porsh
Took all the money, went and gave it to the poor
And they say
what’s with him, he must have gone insane
They just don’t understand
He’s finally found riches, the kind that last beyond your dying days
He's saved
THE GOOD LORD ABOVE
No doubt about it,
I’ve done some pretty dumb things
Thank God Facebook
didn’t exist back when I was a teen
Now time’s gone by
and I’d love to tell you I
Have finally wisened up for good
But I haven’t changed much
I’m still messing up
But the Good Lord above
Knows I’ll keep trying and that’s good enough
For the Good Lord above
It may be a struggle, it might get tough
But I’ll just offer it up
To the Good Lord above
Now my kid’s off to college
Can’t wait to be on his own
He tells me he’s ready
But that dorm’s sure far from home
And I worry about him 'cause the scene he’ll be in
Is crazier than it ever was back when I was his age
All I can do is pray
That the Good Lord above
Watches his back and won’t let him stray
From the Good Lord above,
The things he was taught, the way he was raised
Hope he hangs on to that stuff
And trusts the Good Lord above
Call me a hypocrite ‘cause I’ve been around
This block more than a time or two
Now more and more I catch myself wondering
What I’d ever do
Without the Good Lord above
I’m grateful to Him, so thankful to have
The Good Lord above
Forgiving my sins and forgetting my past
As he guides down the path
To the Good Lord above
That’s the Good Lord above
BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD
His feet are bare
His body’s skin and bones
His hungry eyes tell tales better left untold
And as he disappears down a dusty village street
He turns and lifts a tiny hand
And waves back at me
A mama prays, her baby cries
And it seems to me their only crime
Was being born into a world different than mine
There but for the grace of God go I
And I’ve often wondered why I find myself with such good fortune
When I could have been
Trapped in hopeless poverty
Begging for a bite to eat
Like so many out there struggling to get by
There but for the grace of God go I
Yeah I’ve often thought
Man it isn’t fair
Some folks are down to nothing
Me, I’ve got more than my share
Then I’m reminded of words from the past
To he whom much is given
Much is asked
So I can’t just be complacent
Sit back and count my blessings
There's more that I was put on earth to do
There but for the grace of God go I
I’ll never know the reason why
But I still can’t help but question
Why instead of me it’s him
Out there lost and all alone
No place to call a home
Fighting day to day just to survive
There but for the grace of God go I
Had I taken my first breath somewhere else instead
Or had a dad who disappeared where would I be
It wasn’t my choice, it wasn’t my plan
I was just dealt a real good hand
I've been
blessed with more than I could ever need
There but for the grace of God go I
Could have been that other guy who didn’t have life quite so easy
Or half as good as me
I might be penniless and unemployed
Or hungry like that little boy
All because, Lord knows why
There but for the grace of God go I
There but for the grace of God go I
A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN (Hugo Duarte)
When I was 17 years old we moved to Tascosa /
My daddy was determined to make some dreams come true /
I swore I’d never let him down as long as I was breathing /
Working dawn til dusk, side by side doing all that we could do
Just to stay alive /
Just to stay together /
We were praying if we worked real hard we’d see our lives get better /
Daddy kept on saying son our luck is bound to change / With the good Lord’s help, some daylight, and just a little bit of rain
It never rained a single drop and our dreams were bound to fail /
It’s hard to watch a whole year’s work turn to dust in one dry spell/
There was nothing anyone could do, nothing we could say /
We just loaded what was left of our lives on a truck and drove away
Trying to stay alive /
Trying to stay together
We were praying if we worked real hard we’d see our lives get better /
Daddy kept on saying son our luck is bound to change /
With the good Lord’s help, some daylight, and just a little bit of rain
We were down but not defeated all those years ago / Our failures taught me how to reap those seeds my daddy sowed
I woke up this morning and jumped up in my truck / I drove out to the furthest field and I turned my collar up I walked out in that winter wheat and touched it with my hands / And thanked the Lord for blessing me with those years with my old man
For keeping us alive /
For keeping us together
For listening to our desperate prayers /
And making our lives better
Daddy always told me son our luck is bound to change /
With the good Lord’s help, some daylight, and just a little bit of rain
MY BROTHER AND FRIEND
I’ve got this buddy, he’s a real good guy
Man, if you only knew
How he’s saved my butt more than once or twice
Yeah, I’ve put him through a time or two
He’s heard me say things but no matter how crazy
He never ever rolls his eyes
If I’m laughing out loud or crying like a baby
He’s always right there by my side
While anybody else that I know probably would have bailed
I can count on him sticking around, no never fails
He’s got my back ‘cause
Jesus is more than Christ my Savior
He’s also my brother and friend
He laid down his life so that I’d be forgiven
That’s why I’ve given my life back to Him
To some my words might be a bit strange
He died so long ago
But just like him my faith’s resurrected
Now he’s with me right here, I know
So when I feel confused and I’m searching for answers
He puts my mind at ease
Though my eyes can’t see him, just knowing He’s there
That’s good enough for me
Now even when I stray from the crowd, me I’m never alone
Every step I’m walking with him leads me closer to home
Don’t you know that
Jesus is more than Christ my savior
He’s also my brother and friend
Who laid down his life so that I’d be forgiven
That’s why I’ve given my life back to him
Imagine hanging out with a friend for eternity
Together forever sounds pretty cool to me
Yeah I believe
Jesus is more than Christ my savior
He’s also my brother and friend
He laid down his life so that I’d be forgiven
So I’ve given my life back to him
ALBUM CREDITS
Produced by: Kenny Royster, Direct Image Recording, Nashville TN
Acoustic guitar, Ukelele: John Willis
Electric Guitar: Jon Conley
Keyboards: Mike Rojas
Bass: Dave Francis
Drums: Nick Buda, Tommy Harden on “I Get To”
Backing Vocals: Mark Mulligan, Wendy Newcomer on “Hallelujah”
Duet Vocals on ‘Hey Idiot”: Wendy Newcomer
Cover Art: Marisol Mulligan
Graphic Design: Angelica Leyva
All songs written by Mark Mulligan (c2019 Mulligan’s Island Music ASCAP), except “A Little Bit of Rain” (Hugo Duarte)
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Lenny Atlee, Rudy and Beth Bruggeman, Sean and Shara Castle, Chris Roth, Charlie and Claudia LaClair, Trish and Bo Lebo, Donna Kubiak, Don and Sandy Dalton, Angie Leyva and Kenny Royster for making this album happen. 100% of proceeds from this project go to charitable organizations and individuals in need, while additionally providing for the Mulligan family to participate in mission trips with Outreach For World Hope and other Christian charities. You can contribute to and learn more about OWH at www.outreachforworldhope.org, as well as Castaway Kids, a Mexico charity founded by Mark, at www.castawaykidsmx.org
"RISING SON" is available HERE
Check out ALL of Mark’s CDs by visiting “Mulligan’s Island” at www.markmulligan.net
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