Track 9 of the album Eastbound · 2013
Mama's Church Shoes
by Kane Rivers
“Mama's polishing the same shoes for ten years. This is my love letter to her and to every pew.”
rap · gospel-sample rap · tender hip hop · 3:40
Lyrics
Sunday morning, Mama's polishing her church shoes Same pair for ten years, she don't have much to lose Clicking down the hallway like a metronome of grace Hat tilted perfect, there's a light upon her face She worked a double shift but she's up before the sun Says the Lord don't ask how tired you are, just that you come I'm tying up my tie with my hands still kinda shaking Learning what it looks like when a woman keeps on making Step by step, she leads the way Teaching me to stand today Mama's church shoes, walking me through Every hard road, every storm we knew Shine them up, hold your head high Faith in her stride under a Sunday sky Mama's church shoes, I'm following you Everything I am, she carried through Pews are full of neighbors who have seen it all Lady in the third row sings and makes the whole room small Choir hits a note and my mother closes her eyes Something in her shoulders lets go of the whole day's size After service on the steps, there's laughter and there's pie Someone's passing casseroles and nobody's passing by I watch her talk to everyone like they're her own Teaching me that kindness is a house you build alone Step by step, she leads the way Teaching me to stand today Mama's church shoes, walking me through Every hard road, every storm we knew Shine them up, hold your head high Faith in her stride under a Sunday sky Mama's church shoes, I'm following you Everything I am, she carried through Now I'm grown and I'm writing on a notepad in my car Got a little bit of money, got a little bit of star First thing that I bought her was a brand new pair of heels She laughed and said, "Baby, it's not about how it feels" She keeps the old ones by the door like a medal on the shelf Says the best things in this life are the ones you built yourself I'm walking in her footsteps now, I hope I do her proud Every bar I write is just a prayer said out loud Click, click, down the aisle Every step is worth a mile Click, click, never late Mama's grace is never weight Mama's church shoes, walking me through Every hard road, every storm we knew Shine them up, hold your head high Faith in her stride under a Sunday sky Mama's church shoes, I'm following you Everything I am, she carried through Mama's church shoes, click and shine Walking home to everything that's mine