I was watching 'Cool Hand Luke'.
It was the scene where Luke had just received news about his mother's death.
He reached for the nearby banjo and strummed - started singing, 'I don't care if it rains or freezes, long as I got my plastic Jesus...'
And it occurred to me in the moment that this songs was probably about the closest thing to a hymn that Luke was familiar with. I don't know why, but that set off a fire in me. I had to start writing.
I wrote, 'sometimes life don't go just the way that you plan it, sometimes life comes down far too hard'.
The entire song was written within a few minutes and I knew as I was writing it that it should be for my eldest son, Jason.

Lyrics

Higher GroundMusic and words © 1997 Dale Sechrest
Sometimes life don't go just the way that you plan itsometimes life comes down far too hardBut don't let it get you down child 'cause it goes 'round in a circleThings always get better you can take that much to heart
Seems that one day you're on the mountain topthe next you're in the valleysometimes you just don't know which way to goBut you can learn from these times child just take it as it comeslook it in the face now and don't let it make you run.
ChorusDo not close your eyes to the pain that's all around youDo not close your eyes to the silence of the nightLet it lead you outLet it be there to remind youThat some day you'll be sat on higher ground
Sometimes life don't go just the way that you plan itsometimes life comes down far too hardBut you can learn from these times child just take it as it comeslook it in the face now and don't let it make you run.
ChorusDo not close your eyes to the pain that's all around youDo not close your eyes to the silence of the nightLet it lead you outLet it be there to remind youThat some day you'll be sat on higher ground
There's a better day a'comin'everything's gonna turn aroundand the sun's gonna be shinin' on your backBut it never lasts forever so just take it as you canAnd take a little bit of that high-rise when the alley comes around again
ChorusDo not close your eyes to the pain that's all around youDo not close your eyes to the silence of the nightLet it lead you outLet it be there to remind youThat some day you'll be sat on higher ground