Anything Helps
Written by Christopher Mason

Verse 1
Red light caught me on the edge of town
Cars lined up, sun beatin’ down
There he stood where the sidewalk ends
Same worn shirt, same old wind
Cardboard shaking in a calloused hand
Black ink words that hit like a brand
Anything helps written bold and plain
I drove off carrying his pain

Pre-Chorus
Window rolled up, air blowing cold
But some things cut right through the soul

Chorus
How’d somebody’s son wind up out here
Beggin’ strangers every day
And I’d be lying if I said I never came close
One missed check, one bad month
One door from no place to go
How’d they get to that corner
With a cardboard sign to hold

Verse 2
Couple weeks later by the grocery store light
Young girl standing there one Friday night
Hands on a belly, eyes worn thin
Trying to be strong in the shape she was in
She asked real soft if I had spare change
Like needing help was something to..shame
Light turned green but I just sat there
With a thousand thoughts and a silent.. prayer

Pre-Chorus
You tell yourself it ain’t your place
Till mercy looks you in the face

Chorus
How’d somebody’s daughter wind up out here
Beggin’ strangers every day
And I’d be lying if I said I never came close
One layoff slip, one rent past due
How’d they get to that corner
With a cardboard sign to hold

Bridge
I know what it’s like to count loose change
Pray a gas tank makes it one more day
I’ve felt that floor fall out beneath my feet...

Months went by and I saw her again
No baby there, same cold wind
And when I saw that empty look
Lord, it shook me to the bone
’Cause I don’t see strangers standing there
I see how close I’ve come

Final Chorus
How’d a man with work-worn hands
End up barely hanging on
It ain’t always bridges burned
Sometimes the fire just comes
Sometimes life swings with no warning
And keeps hitting till you’re gone
How’d they get to that corner
With a cardboard sign to hold

Outro
Light turned green, I still moved slow
Some questions follow you...
Wherever you go