This song begins with a simple truth: good and evil are always present, and there is a bright line between the two.
Recognizing that line, however, is only the beginning. Each of us is called to remain alert and diligent, because evil can appear in many forms and can take hold whenever good people become indifferent, complacent, or unwilling to stand against it.
A line in the sand represents the choices we make about which side of that line we will stand on. Choosing good requires courage, conviction, and a willingness to defend what is right—even when doing so is difficult.
"Line in the Sand" is a reminder that the struggle between good and evil is not confined to another time or place. It is present in the world around us and in the choices we make every day. The song urges us to recognize the line, stand firmly on the side of good, and remain ever mindful of our responsibility to help beat back evil wherever we encounter it.
LYRICS
Granddaddy said, “Boy, there’s a line in the sand,
Ain’t always clear, but you know where it stands.
We call a thing crooked ‘cause we’ve seen what’s straight,
And a man shows his soul by the path that he takes.”
He said, “That voice in your gut don’t ever lie,
Keeps you from walkin’ where the devil runs high.
You will know when the wrong feels right,
Because Jesus is with you shining His light.
I hear that Jesus’s whisper… callin’ me home
Sayin’ stand your ground… you’re not alone
Yeah, we drag that darkness out into the light,
Beat back evil ‘til it yields to what’s right
Stand your ground, don’t you run, don’t hide,
Let your blood run true, let your soul decide.
Don’t stand still while the wolves run wild—
Yeah, we whip that evil ‘til it’s red on the side.
Mama said, “Child, don’t you answer hate,
That road runs long, but it don’t run straight.
Free will’s a blade, cuts both ways deep,
You can sow that love or the hell you reap.”
I’ve seen good hearts break just holdin’ still,
While the shadows grow ‘cause nobody will.
It ain’t just the hand that draws that line—
It’s the silent ones that fall in line.
Yeah I’ve felt that pull… down in my bones
But I won’t back down…won’t give it a throne.
Yeah, we drag that darkness out into the light,
Beat back evil ‘til it yields to what’s right
Stand your ground, don’t you run, don’t hide,
Let your blood run true, let your soul decide.
Don’t stand still while the wolves run wild—
Yeah, we whip that evil ‘til it’s red on the side.
When the night weighs heavy—
And it pulls you down—
You don’t back away—
You don’t turn around—
Every stand you take is a crack in the dark,
Every spark you strike leaves a mark.
Yeah, we drag that darkness out into the light,
We don’t quit swingin’, we don’t lose the fight.
Side by side, yeah, we hold that line,
With a little bit of grit and a whole lotta spine.
In the dead of night, be the reason why
A little more heaven hits the sky.
We won’t stand down, we won’t let it slide—
Yeah, we whip that evil ‘til it’s red on the side.
Yeah, a little light cuts deep through the gray…
So let Jesus’s light show you the way.