If Not You Then Who cover art

If Not You Then Who

Written by Shane Pierson

Released January 1, 2024

This song came from the loss of a family member and experience with my brother in law, heard over the pulpit at a funeral. My brother shared a story about walking down a hallway with his dad after church. There was a piece of paper on the floor. His...

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Lyrics

That porch lights never burnin', yard gone wild with weeds,

Letters in the mailbox talkin' overdue with need.

I rolled by in the twilight, radio turned up loud,

Mumbled, "Lord, please send somebody," then still faded in the crowd.

I went farther down that highway, underneath that broken moon,

Then Somethin' heavy in my chest said,

"If not you, then who?"

If not you, then who gonna knock on that door?

If not now, what you still waitin' for?

If His love done carried you all the way through,

If not you, then who, if not you, then who?

Old church on the corner, wood floor, crooked pew,

Choir sang "God is able," but my heart, it barely moved.

Saw a mama in the back row, baby cryin' on her chest,

Eyes like midnight thunder, soul too tired to rest.

I shook the preacher's hand outside like I always do,

But in the gravel by my car I heard,

"If not you, then who?"

If not you, who gonna hold that child?

If not now, let her breathe for a while.

If His mercy found you when you had no clue,

If not you, then who, if not you, then who?

One Sunday with my father, walkin' slow down church-house aisle,

He saw a wrinkled paper on the floor for quite a while.

We watched the people pass it, never bent or changed their pace,

He just kept on waitin' silent, kept his eyes up on my face.

Then he stooped and picked it gently, said, "Son, this starts with you,

When you see somethin' needs doin'…

If not you, then who?"

If not you, who gonna step aside?

If not now, lay your small crown down and pride.

If His grace done walked you out of every tomb,

If not you, then who, if not you, then who?

This old guitar keeps moanin' 'bout the things I missed,

Every string is singin' 'bout the times I slipped.

But God said, "I ain't countin' every time you fall,

I'm lookin' at your 'yes' when you hear Me call.

You don't need a bigger stage, just a simple 'yes',

One small step of faith, and I'll do the rest.

When that holy fire 's burnin' like it burns in you,

Don't you turn away again, that's My voice in you."

If not you, then who gonna knock on that door?

If not now, what you still prayin' for?

If His love done raised you when you were broken too,

If not you, then who, if not you, then who?

If not you, standin' where He brought you through,

If not you, then who,

If not you, then who?

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The Story

This song came from the loss of a family member and experience with my brother in law, heard over the pulpit at a funeral.

My brother shared a story about walking down a hallway with his dad after church. There was a piece of paper on the floor. His dad stopped him and told him to wait and watch. People walked by it. Nobody picked it up. No judgment. Just observation. Then his dad bent down, picked it up, and said "if not you then who is going to do it."

That story stayed with me because it exposed something I had done more times than I wanted to admit.

I remembered a house in a neighborhood I lived in years ago. Overgrown yard. Someone clearly struggling. I noticed it. I felt it. And I still did nothing. I said a quiet prayer asking God to send someone to help them and then drove away.

That is the failure this song sits in.

Why would a thought come to my mind if I was not meant to act on it. Why would I ask God to send someone else when the opportunity was already in front of me. This song is about realizing how often we hide behind good intentions and spiritual language to avoid responsibility.

You do not need to know exactly what someone needs. You just need to show up. The blues tone matters here because this realization was uncomfortable. It carries grit. It carries regret. It carries the resolve to not let that moment repeat itself.

If not you then who.

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