01 Rack and a break... two thousand one A town where I didn't know a name He never said a word He just ran the table And looked up with a grin and said Rack 'em up kid... let's play again
02 I'm holdin' on to laughter I'm holdin' on to Thanksgiving There's a room in me That's always gonna be dark But he came up breathin' So I'm gonna keep livin' Like my brother Mark
03 Eighteen winters... every road ran white He'd drive through any one of 'em To stand at my side Then a doctor dealt a hand he couldn't beat Down to a chip and a chair He never even blinked He just smiled with grateful tears and cried Love you brother, I still got life to live And we'll keep playing the cards we've got until then
04 I'm holdin' on to laughter I'm holdin' on to Thanksgiving There's a room in me That's always gonna be dark But he came up breathin' So I'm gonna keep livin' Like my brother Mark
05 Rebel since the day that he was born Never met a rule he wouldn't lean against But he laid it all down easy In that water And the hands that ran that table on me Were the hands I got to lift up that day
06 The water washed the fear right out of him Short stack Came up born again Buried with Him — raised to walk in a new life That's the day my brother started livin' And he never stopped
07 Last day... four strings, heart heavy and no words Wrong key, fingers shakin', waitin' for the end But I played for him anyway He looked at us and smiled With those grateful eyes And he took his last breath Like he could see the other side
08 I'm holdin' on to laughter I'm holdin' on to Thanksgiving There's a room in me That's always gonna be dark But he came up breathin' So I'm gonna keep livin' Like my brother Mark
09 So you keep on breathin' And I'll keep on livin' Rack 'em up brother Mark — I'll be along by and by I'll bring quarters When He calls me to His table Until then I'll keep livin' You keep on breathin' Raised to life with Him Love you My brother Mark
Words and music by Nathanael Joseph. © Nathanael Joseph Ende. All rights reserved. Quote a line with credit; please don't reprint the whole song.
