He said 'I know this ain't the time or place Bur Lord I need to talk' In a business suit in a corner booth In a crowded little restaurant We all tried not to listen We all tried not to look But a whole room full of customers And the waitress and the cook All stopped what we were doin' When he bowed his head In that silence we heard every word he said
'I been tryin' to do things my way Down here on life's highway Slippin' slidin' sideways 'Tween no way and nowhere If I could only gain a foothold Up there on your high road Lord if you hear me help me I'll do anything you tell me to All I've got to offer you is this Backslider's prayer
Well the waitress made the first move When she filled his coffee cup She said 'You ain't alone here mister You're speakin' for the rest of us' I heard some scattered 'amens' And a couple of 'I've been there's' Then things got back to normal The dishes and the silverwate Were clangin' in the kitchen Like an angel's band As I took my place in line To shake his hand ('cause)
'I been tryin' to do things my way Down here on life's highway Slippin' slidin' sideways 'Tween no way and nowhere If I could only gain a foothold Up there on your high road Lord if you hear me help me I'll do anything you tell me to All I've got to offer you is this Backslider's prayer
If I could only gain a foothold Up there on your high road Lord if you hear me help me I'll do anything you tell me to All I've got to offer you is this Backslider's prayer