By Many Names

*Chorus** I call you Leonard when the day winds down Dad says Eugene, that hometown sound Your sister and childhood friends call you Gene Your Mama says “my colored child” when you’re wild. Grandma Liz called you Little Genie for a while Grandad says, “that’s my first grandson with a smile Reye says father, Our girls say dad, or Baldy. To the Marines you’re brother, semper fi, standing proud **Verse 1** We met in the fall of twenty-fourteen Blended our lives, found our in-between Built our routines, stayed close and true Held on tight through all we knew *Chorus** I call you Leonard when the day winds down Dad says Eugene, that hometown sound Your sister and childhood friends call you Gene Your Mama says “my colored child” when you’re wild. Grandma Liz called you Little Genie for a while Grandad says, “that’s my first grandson with a smile Reye says father, Our girls say dad, or Baldy. To the Marines you’re brother, semper fi, standing proud **Verse 2** First flight summer twenty-fifteen skies Married, moved in, built our lives Then came the news that shook our ground But you stood strong, never backed down **Bridge** God called your name, you chose His way You lead with love every single day Kind and faithful, principled too Blessed and favored—that’s you **Final Chorus** I call you Leonard when the day winds down Dad says Eugene, that hometown sound Our family knows who you are Loved by God, our guiding star You are aunty Joe’s baby boy **Outro** You are a husband, a father, a son, and a brother An uncle, a cousin, a lifelong friend to others Most of all, a Christian who loves Jesus true I’ll stand right beside you till the end—I choose you By so many names, still my man I’d choose you Again and again. * *Chorus** I call you Leonard when the day winds down Dad says Eugene, that hometown sound Your sister and childhood friends call you Gene Your Mama says “my colored child” when you’re wild. Grandma Liz called you Little Genie for a while Grandad says, “that’s my first grandson with a smile Reye says father, Our girls say dad, or Baldy. To the Marines you’re brother, semper fi, standing proud