He tore down the work of seventeen years
Brick by brick and stone by stone
No hammer was swingin' 'cause cheatin' and drinkin'
Don't need no help wreckin' a home
Ah, but when he came back through the dust and the rubble
Of what he had once called his life
He dropped to his knees in sheer disbelief
Of the total destruction inside
There were empty closets and empty drawers
And a tear stained note on the kitchen floor
And burnin' memories in the fireplace
He waited too late to say he was wrong
His house was still standin' but his home was gone
Brother you would not believe
What you can see from your knees
Right then and there in an old sinner's prayer
He told things he'd kept in the dark
There was no use in lyin' 'cause the man who was listenin'
Could see every room in his heart
Ah, he took empty whiskey bottles, little black book and all
To the fire she left on the grate
Ah, sometimes a man will change on his own
But sometimes I tell you it takes
Empty closets and empty drawers
And a tearful confession on the kitchen floor
And burnin' memories in the fireplace
He waited too late to say he was wrong
His house was still standin', he'd fight for his home
Brother you would not believe, oh you would not believe
What you can see from your knees