written by

Owen johnson

Many years ago

I swore I had it all

Thought my plans were set

Thought my back could take the fall

But in the quiet rooms

In the middle of my days

I heard a gentle voice

Pulling on my heart that way

One trip down the road

To visit my friend

West Virginia hills

Curving

Never end

Sunday morning came

That whisper turned to sound

“Go to Sunday school”

Like thunder shaking ground

I turned and asked my friend

“Can I come along?”

He smiled and nodded slow

Said

“That’s where we belong”

I’m a winner either way

If I go or if I stay

When I heard that old song play

Something broke inside my shame

In that little country church

I felt love I can’t explain

Now I’m holding to the Savior’s hand

I’m a winner either way

We got up and dressed

Tried to hide my nerves

Old white steeple stood

On that winding curve

As the music rose

I felt something new

Like the weight I’d carried

Finally slipping through

Every note they sang

Cut straight through my fear

I didn’t know the words

But I knew God was near

I’m a winner either way

If I go or if I stay

When I heard that old song play

Something broke inside my shame

In that little country church

I felt love I can’t explain

Now I’m holding to the Savior’s hand

I’m a winner either way

I walked in thinking I was fine

Just another Sunday

Just killing time

But heaven had a different plan that day

Turned a restless heart into a life of praise

I’m a winner either way

If I go or if I stay

From that first “amen” that day

I was never quite the same

In that little country church

Grace came rushing like a wave

Now I’m holding to the Savior’s hand

I’m a winner either way

(yeah, I’m a winner either way)