Marvin grows up in a poor share-cropper family that loves music. He goes forward for salvation at fifteen but falls in with rowdy boys after the family moves to Florida. In the army he plays in a band and learns to drink. Afterward he forms his own band, writes songs and has a major country music star record one of his songs. He marries and is increasingly conflicted about the lyrics of country music. Asked to be a music director at his church, he turns away from the world to serve the Lord.