Well, you can live for the lights
On the stage, my friend
Play your music while everyone's high
Dazzle the fans
With your fantastic hands
Leave 'em screamin' when you say goodbye
But the song in the night
When you're all alone
That's the one you just can't refuse
If you ain't gonna sing the gospel
You're gonna sing the blues

Now, you can paint with your words
You can sing like a bird
And maybe try to convince yourself
Or you can outright lie
Just to get yourself by
With your cold dead soul on the shelf
But if the song comes from some place
That's real, my friend
You know there's only two ways to choose
If you ain't gonna sing the gospel
You're gonna sing the blues

Said, if you ain't gonna sing the gospel
You're gonna sing the blues
No matter what rhythm
No matter what rhyme you choose
It might feel good up front, my friend
But in the end, you'll lose
If you ain't gonna sing the gospel
You're gonna sing the blues
But if you'll grab ahold of salvation
And stop all of that foolin' around
Let the Lord Jesus show you
What you've been missin'
Put your feet down on a rock solid ground
Then you'll find out the truth
That you've searched for so long
Well, it's a whole lot of good, good news
You'll be so busy singin' the victory
You won't have time for the blues

But if you ain't gonna sing the gospel
You're gonna sing the blues
No matter what rhythm
No matter what rhyme you choose
It might feel good up front, my friend
But in the end, you'll lose
If you ain't gonna sing the gospel
You're gonna sing the blues