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 Mama says “my colored child” with a smile Grandma Liz called you Little Genie for a while 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 Mama says “my colored child” with a smile Grandma Liz called you Little Genie for a while 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 **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 Mama says “my colored child” with a smile Grandma Liz called you Little Genie for a while Reye says father, Our girls say dad, or Baldy. To the Marines you’re brother, semper fi, standing proud