Guided Autobiography writing, Ethical Will preparation, & so much more!

Make Me Who I Am

Aaron Nevill, R. Nevil, B. Spalter, G. Chambers

 

I’ve walked through this world sometimes without a friend

My life has been up and down, been close to an end

I’ve been through the mill and I’ve paid my dues

Walked so many miles in different peoples shoes
But I’ve been through the fire and I’ve walked in the rain

I’ve felt the joy and endured the pain
Once I was a schemer but I always was a dreamer

But it took me who I was and where I’ve been

To make me who I am

I’ve met a lot of lost souls in the bowels of hell

Traveled some crooked roads and got some stories yet to tell

I’ve shot up with the junkie in piss stenched halls

Broken bread with the devil, fallen on my knees to God
Some days I was blessed, some nights I was damned

But I always tried to lend a helping hand
Once I was a deceiver, now I am a believer

But it took me, who I was and where I’ve been

To make me who I am

Oh, I’ve seen the little children all strung out on dope

No one to care about them, living without hope

But I’ve been lucky that I always had a song

I’ll sing it with compassion, to try to right the wrong
Once my life was wretched but why should I regret it

‘Cause, it took me, who I was and where I’ve been

To make me who I am

This is dedicated to my friends in jail

For my brother Jake who had to ride the rail

For my friend Roonie and Melvin who were so dear

They were so misunderstood but I wish they were still here

To hear this song I sing from my heart

They’re forever in my soul even though we had to part
Once I was a deceiver, now I am a believer

But it took me who I was and where I’ve been

To make me who I am

God said, “I forgive you, wipe away the scars

‘Cause I know it took who you were

And where you came from to make you who you are

‘Cause I know it took who you were

And where you came from to make you what you are”

 

 

Why Can’t We?

Lyrics by Russell Smith and Danny Orton

Sung by Kathy Mattea -  The Innocent Years album

 

Grandma and Grandpa came over the mountain

With a mule and a Bible and an old Model T

Raised seven kids through the Great Depression

If they could be happy, Why can’t we?

There’s so much confusion in this world of illusion

With all these possessions we’re taught to need

If people with nothing could hold onto something

If they can be happy, Why can’t we?

But me, I want it, just gotta have it

If I don’t get it, I believe I’ll die

I’ve got the money and I got the habit

I’m addicted to things that money can buy

You and I we say with pride

“We aint never been satisfied.”

You can’t hold happiness in your hand

How long til we understand?

Cause when we come down to the River of Jordan

As we all must surely do someday

All our treasures will just be a burden

Something for someone else to throw away.

There’s so much confusion in this world of illusion

With all these possessions we’re taught to need

If people with nothing could hold onto something

If they can be happy, Why can’t we?

 

 

 

Things

By Bob Sickler

 

We begin to collect, from the moment we’re born,

all the things that define who we are.

And as time marches on, they take on a new form,

in our hairstyles, our clothes and our car.

For the rest of our days we compute all the ways

To get things that will show our success.

And the more we acquire just increases desire

To have symbols that shout, “Happiness!”

There’s an irony here in the things we hold dear,

All the things we can see with our eyes.

For the thing that is key to the you and the me

is inside where the real person lies.

So then “this above all, to thine own self be true”

in the words of the most famous poet.

Find yourself, be yourself, it’s the best thing to do,

You’ll arrive, and the whole world will know it.

 

 

The House That Built Me

Lyrics by Miranda Lambert

 

I know they say you can’t go home again.
I just had to come back one last time.
Ma'am I know you don't know me from Adam.
But these handprints on the front steps are mine.
And up those stairs, in that little back bedroom
is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar.
And I bet you didn't know under that live oak
my favorite dog is buried in the yard.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here it’s like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself
if I could just come in I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years.
From 'Better Homes and Garden' magazines.
Plans were drawn; concrete poured,
and nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama's dream.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here it’s like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could just come in I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

You leave home, you move on and you do the best you can.
I got lost in this whole world and forgot who I am.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here it’s like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could walk around I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.