Verse 1
Back in ’58 in a small Tennessee town,
Jack was the quarterback, the local talk of the town.
Becky was his cheerleader, with a smile so sweet,
At the burger shack and drive-ins, that’s where they’d meet.
Verse 2
Jack saved every dime since he was twelve years old,
Bought a candy-apple ’58 Impala, shiny and bold.
They’d cruise the backroads with the radio on high,
Two poor kids in love, living under the southern sky.
Verse 3
Senior prom came, Jack dropped to one knee,
A simple little ring, but she said “I do” with glee.
They married young, rented a home on a quiet lane,
Building dreams together through sunshine and rain.
[Chorus]
You never know what your future life brings,
A life of daily sunshine, or monsoon rains.
Loss of your family is a permanent thing,
No end to your heartache, no end to your pain.
Verse 4
Soon little Bobby was born, then baby Heather too,
The love in that small house only grew and grew.
Sunday mornings they’d dress up, drive to church to pray,
Till that dark stormy morning took it all away.
Verse 5
A tornado touched down as thunder shook the sky,
The Chevy was lifted, like a toy tossed high.
Jack and Becky were thrown, the ravine sealed their fate,
Two small children cried, but it was too late.
Verse 6
Rain fell at the funeral as the town gathered round,
Umbrellas and sorrow in that cold, muddy ground.
Two children held hands, hearts full of fear,
Wondering why Mom and Dad weren’t here.
[Chorus]
You never know what your future life brings,
A life of daily sunshine, or monsoon rains.
Loss of your family is a permanent thing,
No end to your heartache, no end to your pain.
Verse 7
Heather went to Becky’s sister, Bobby to Uncle Jim,
Two homes, two lives, the light grew dim.
They promised the kids they’d see each other again,
But life had other plans, as it so often did then.
Verse 8
Jim’s job took him overseas, a world away,
Indonesia became home, where Bobby had to stay.
A plane crash at fifteen nearly took his life,
Lost a leg and his childhood in one tragic night.
Verse 9
He grew up in an orphanage, dreams turned to rust,
Working as a busboy, doing what he must.
Married in the Philippines, three kids of his own,
But the ache for his sister never left him alone.
[Chorus]
You never know what your future life brings,
A life of daily sunshine, or monsoon rains.
Loss of your family is a permanent thing,
No end to your heartache, no end to your pain.
Verse 10
In 2019, his wife died, leaving him all alone,
A house of grown children, but an empty home.
He swore to find Heather before his final breath,
To mend the bond broken by tragedy and death.
Verse 11
In 2021 he landed in Nashville town,
But COVID took hold and tried to drag him down.
They rushed him to Vanderbilt, his hope growing thin,
Praying for a miracle, for family again.
Verse 12
A nurse checked his chart, and tears filled her eyes,
“He lost his parents at five”—she nearly cried.
She ran to his side, whispered, “Brother, it’s me,”
He died in her arms at 4 a.m., finally free.
[Chorus]
You never know what your future life brings,
A life of daily sunshine, or monsoon rains.
Loss of your family is a permanent thing,
No end to your heartache, no end to your pain.
[Outro]
While family loss is a permanent thing,
With endless heartache, and lifetime pain.
If you give your life to Jesus before it’s too late,
He’ll give you the strength to carry the weight.
Copyright July 31, 2025, by Stephen Craig Whitley – All Rights Reserved
