             ,B4,J4 ,?OMAS

  ,ACADEMY ,AW>D-W9N+ S+] & S;GWRIT]
,BJ4 ,?OMAS'S P]SONAL LIFE SCRAP$ ROCK
BOTTOM AT J AB ! SAME "T T HE 0 NE>+ P1K
( 8 C>E]4
  ,:ILE ! FIVE-"T ,GRAMMY ,AW>D W9N] 0
IMPRESS+ CRITICS & AUDI;ES ) 8 REM>KA#
VOCAL TAL5T1 ! H&"S ,C.TRY/POP RECORD+
SUP]/> 0 L1D+ A SECRET LIFE ( DRUG &
ALCOHOL ABUSE T 0 DE/ROY+ HM4
  ,X WD TAKE A F"R5+ BRU% ) EVIL =!
FIFTY-FIVE-YE>- OLD ,TEXAS-RAIS$ 5T]TA9]
6M5D 8 WAYS4 ,S9CE T 5C.T]1 ,B4,J41 :O
IS P]H BE/ "KN = S* HITS Z 8,RA9DROPS
,KEEP ,FALL+ ON ,MY ,H1D0 & 87,HEY WON'T
,Y ,PLAY71 ,ANO!R ,"SBODY'S ,D"O ,"SBODY
,WR;G ,S;G10 HAS N D"O ANYBODY WR;G--
"PICUL>LY HMF4
  ,N[A"DS1 ! /-POPUL> 5T]TA9] IS BASK+ 9
! SUN%9E (A SU3ESS;L C>E]1 A LOV+
FAMILY1 &1 MO/ IMPORTANT ( ALL1 A DEVOT$
_SUAL LIFE T PROVIDES HM )! K9D ( HI< :
HE _C SEEM 6GET 5 ( '''
  ,Z A "Y/] GR[+ UP 9 ,H\/ON1 ,TEXAS1
,B4,J4 ,?OMAS RECOLLECTS 2+ S ATTRACT$
6RELIGION T AT AGE TWELVE HE & 8 OLD]
BRO!R1 ,J]RY1 WD F9D WAYS 6SN1K 96!
LOCAL *UR* BUILD+ IF X 0 CLOS$4
  8,WE'D G 6*UR* ON ,SUN"D MORN+S &
,SUN"D NI<TS & ,W$NES"D NI<TS4 ,WE'D G
ALL ! "T4 ,WE RE,Y LIK$ X4 ,IF ! *UR* 0
LOCK$1 WE'D G "? A W9D[ OR "S?+ & G
9SIDE & WE'D PLAY ,P+-,P;G & WE'D GET !
HYMNALS \ & WE'D S+ F !M & R1D "S
,SCRIPTURE40
  ,HE ATTRIBUTES M* ( ? RELIGI\S
ATTRAC;N 6HIS "M1 :OM HE DESCRIBES Z 8A
V _SUAL P]SON4 ,MY DAD1 WELL1 HE 0 J !
OPPOSITE4 ,HE 0 AN ALCOHOLIC & HE WASN'T
_SUAL :ATSO"E4
  8,HE 0 A GRT GUY1 B HE N"E KNEW X1 &
PROBABLY1 ( ALL ! KIDS1 ,I'M M L HM ?AN
ANY (! O!RS4 ,X 0 MY "M :O 5C\RAG$ U
KIDS 6G 6*UR* :5 WE 7 "Y]40
  ,N T ,B4,J4 NE$$ M* 5C\RAGE;T 6D S4 ,X
0 9 *UR* ": HE EXP]I;ED :AT 0 (T5 LACK+
AT HOME--A H>MONI\S 5VIRON;T4
  8,"! 0 A R1L BLOCK AG/ CLOSE;S 9 MY
FAMILY4 ,MY "F'S DR9K+ CAUS$ A R1L
SEP>,N4 ,S Z A "Y KID GR[+ UP MY R1L
9SPIR,N CAME F ! ,*UR*4 ,T'S ": ,I AL
LE>N$ AB PRAY] & TGR;S40
  ,DUR+ ^? "TS :5 8 "F WD 2 HITT+ !
BOTTLE1 ,B4,J4 REMEMB]S TURN+ 6! PA/OR (
8 *UR* = SOLACE4 ,! M9I/] LIK$ BO? !
,?OMAS KIDS1 & WD 9VITE !M 6A3OMPANY HM
ON 8 FAMILY VISIT,NS--AN EXP]I;E T 0
6L1VE A LA/+ IMPRES.N ON ! "Y/]4
  ,REFLECT+ BACK ON ^? "DS1 ,,BJ4
,RECOLLECTS T "O (! BE/ ?+S AB *UR* 0 !
MUSIC4 ,HE FELL 9 LOVE ) ,GOSPEL MUSIC
AT A "Y AGE1 & 0F\RTE5 0 A REGUL> 9 8
*UR*'S ,GOSPEL *OIR4
  8,IF "! 0 A GR\P ( KIDS T 7 GETT+ A
QU>TET TGR OR ANY?+ T _H 6D ) ,GOSPEL
MUSIC ME & ,J]RY WD 2 "P ( T4 ,A LOT (
"TS ! "Y P WD GET TGR ON A C]TA9 NI<T
DUR+ ! WEEK1 & ,I REMEMB] T =A "T ,I 0 !
S;G L1D]--T K9D ( ?+40
  ,Z HE GREW OLD]1 8 LOVE ( MUSIC
EMBRAC$ O!R =MS4 ,,BJ4 RECALLS FALL+ "U
! SPELL ( S* ,C.TRY GRTS Z ,HANK
,WILLIAMS & ,EME/ ,TUBB4 ,ANO!R ( 8
FAVORITES 0 S\L MUSIC GRT ,JACKIE
,WILSON4
  ,8 FAMILY RELOCAT$ 6! SMALL T[N (
,ROS5B]G1 ,TEXAS1 & :ILE / 9 HI< S*OOL1
,B4,J4 JO9$ A ROCK 'N' ROLL B& CALL$ !
,TRIUMPHS4
  8,? 0 ! SUMM] 2T MY FRE%MAN &
SOPHOMORE YE>S4 ,X 0 ? LL B& T "S FRS (
MY BRO!R 7 />T+4 ,WE PLAY$ MO/LY 9 !
,H\/ON >EA40
  ,8 A6ILI,N ) T B& WD LA/ 96! MID-
SIXTIES1 :5 ,B4,J4 TOOK OV] Z L1D S+] &
*ANG$ XS "N 6,,BJ4 ,?OMAS &! ,TRIUMPHS4
  ,AF A S]IES ( LOCAL HITS ON A SMALL
LABEL1 ! B& SIGN$ )! L>G] ,SCEPT]
,RECORDS ,-PANY & RECORD$ A REMAKE (A
,HANK ,WILLIAMS S;G1 8,I'M ,S ,L"O"S ,I
,CD ,CRY40
  ,T S;G R1*$ ! TOP (! POP *>TS1 &
,B4,J4'S C>E] F9,Y 2GAN 6TAKE (F4 ,! !N-
TW5TY-TWO-YE>-OLD S+] LEFT ! B& 62G9
RECORD+ ON 8 [N4
  ,0#AIFF1 BO? ,CA%BOX & ,BILLBO>D
MAGAZ9ES 7 DESCRIB+ ,,BJ4 Z ! 8,MO/
,PROMIS+ ,VOCALI/40 ,T ASSESS;T WD -E
TRUE :5 HE WROTE & RECORD$ ! S;G
8,RA9DROPS ,KEEP ,FALL+ ON ,MY ,H1D0 =!
MOVIE ,BUT* ,CASSIDY &! ,SUND.E ,KID4 ,!
S;G W5T ON 6W9 AN ,OSC> 9 #AIFI = 8,BE/
,S;G (! ,YE>40 ,,BJ4 0 N[ FIRMLY
E/ABLI%$ Z A />4
  ,)A NEW RECORD+ 3TRACT F ,P>AM.T
,RECORDS 9 H&1 ! RIS+ "Y /> 0 RAPIDLY
APPROA*+ ! P9NACLE ( 8 C>E]4 ,:AT NEI !
RECORD -PANY NOR 8 FANS R1LIZ$ 0 ! HI<
PRICE T ! TAL5T$ 5T]TA9] 0 PAY+ = 8
FAME4
  8,I'D BE5 DR9K+ "E S9CE ,I 0 FAIRLY "Y
--"E S9CE MY TW5TIES1 :5 ,I GOT \ (
A?LETICS & GOT 96MUSIC4 ,I J _H NO S5SE
GETT+ 96T4 ,& ,I _H A :OLE DRUG ?+ TOO4
,I'D BE5 TAK+ PILLS S9CE ,I 0 AB FIFTE5
OR SIXTE54
  8,I 0 J CAU<T UP 9 T K9D ( LIFE/YLE
SPE$1 D[N]S--T K9D ( ?+4 ,I N"E ?"\ AB
X4 ,I N"E ?"\ X 0 ANY?+ WORSE ?AN SMOK+
A CIG>ETTE OR "S?+4 ,& :5 ,I GOT \ ON !
ROAD & ,I WD GET SICK1 ,I WD GET ME "S
SPE$4 ,& ,I DID T F "T 6"T UNTIL ,I CAME
6RELY ON X40
  ,Z 8 GR[+ POPUL>;Y BR"\ M PRESSURE
6BE> ^U HM1 ,B4,J4 2GAN 69CR1SE 8
DEP5D;E ^U DRUGS & ALCOHOL4 ,T DEP5D5CY1
HE RECALLS1 WORS5$ 9 #AIFH AF AN 9CID5T
9 A ,NEW ,YORK ,C;Y HOTEL LO2Y LEFT HM
4A#D4
  8,6MAKE A L;G /ORY %ORT1 ,I _H J >RIV$
9 ,NEW ,YORK ,C;Y F ,MEMPHIS1 & ,I _H AN
ALT]C,N ) ? ,AFRICAN-,AM]ICAN GUY 2H !
HOTEL DESK ": ,I 0 /AY+ :O _H "S ^WS )
ME :5 HE F.D \ ,I 0 F ,MEMPHIS4 ,? 0 "R
AF ! ASSASS9,N ( ,DR4 ,M>T9 ,LU!R ,K+
,JR4
  8,HE /A2$ ME 9 MY LEFT LUNG1 & ,I W5T
96! HOSPITAL = TW5TY 6TW5TY-TWO "DS4 ,:5
,I GOT \1 ,I 0 "U DOCTORS' ORD]S N 6S+
OR G ON ! ROAD = SIX MON?S4 ,S :5 ,I GOT
BACK 6,MEMPHIS1 ,I /UCK X \ = AB A MON?
&! M"OY 0 RUNN+ \4
  8,S0' ,I W5T 6A DOCTOR & ,I SD1
,8,GIVE ME F\R OR FIVE PRESCRIP;NS =
SPE$ & ?REE OR F\R = D[NS40' ,I WD USE !
SPE$ = 5]GY 6S+ 2C BASIC,Y ,I J _H "O
LUNG AT T "T4 ,B T'S :5 ,I RE,Y GOT
HOOK$ UP 96X4 ,& ,I 0 RE,Y HUNG UP 9 A
MAJOR1 MAJOR WAY UNTIL #AIGF1 :5 ,I
TURN$ ?+S >.D 9 MY LIFE40
  ,0N[1 ,,BJ4'S C>E] 0 SKYROCKET+1 & S 0
8 DRUG HABIT4 ,HE REMEMB]S RESID+ 9 A
NEI<BORHOOD ON ,NEW ,YORK ,C;Y'S ,UPP]
,WE/ ,SIDE ": DRUGS 7 R1DILY AVAILA# &
HE 0 "O (! DRUG D1L]S' BE/ CU/OM]S4
  8,I'D G OV] 6? >EA 9 ,NEW ,YORK CALL$
,NE$LE ,P>K 6BUY DRUGS4 ,I 0 A SU3ESS;L
5T]TA9] & ,I _H ALL K9DS ( M"OY1 B ,I
LIV$ L A BUM--L A DRUG A4ICT4 ,I LOOK$ L
,I 0 LIV+ ON ! /REET4
  8,I _H DIRTY HAIR1 DIRT "U MY F+]NAILS
--Y "K4 ,& !N ,I'D G ON ! ROAD & ,I
WDN'T EV5 TAKE A %[] =! %[4 ,I'D J GET
UP "!1 D SEV5 OR EI<T S;GS1 GET ! HELL
(F1 & G D MY DRUGS4 ,I 0 J A CLASSIC
DRUGH1D4
  8,& ,I N"E ?"\ ,I WD "E GET FREE F T4
,L E ONCE 9 A :ILE ,I'D ?9K1 ,8,WELL1
Y1H1 ,I NE$ TO40' ,B ,I 0 CAU<T4 ,X 0 L
,I 0 H&CU6$ & "! 0 NO WAY \40
  ,8 DRUG HABIT SOON 2GAN 6TAKE A TOLL
ON 8 C>E]1 Z ^W />T$ 6SPR1D AB ! />'S
UNPREDICTA# 2HAVIOR4 ,B4,J4 SOON F.D HMF
) FEW] & FEW] BOOK+S4
  8,SOON1 "EY?+ ,I _H 0 BASIC,Y G"O10 HE
SOMB]LY RECALLS4 8,I J _H A NUMB]-"O POP
RECORD & ,I CDN'T EV5 GET A BOOK+ AT !
,ELKS ,CLUB4 ,I WDN'T %[ UP & :5 ,I DID
%[ UP ,I'D S+ F\R OR FIVE S;GS & ,I MI<T
CUSS "SBODY \ OR 9SULT ! CR[D--OR EV5
,JESUS4
  8,I 0 J AW;L4 ,I'D G ON ! ,8,M]V
,GRI69 ,%[0' &! ,8,MIKE ,D\GLAS ,%[0'--
ALL ^? %[S--J BLITZ$ \ ( MY M9D4 ,I 0 S
HI<1 !Y CDN'T TALK 6ME4 ,I J BASIC,Y LO/
"EY?+ & ,I DIDN'T "K H[ ,I 0 GO+
6SUPPORT MY FAMILY4 ,I ?"\ ,I 0 GO+ 6H
6F9D ME A JOB OR "S?+10 HE QUIPS4
  ,B4,J4'S LIFE 3T9U$ 6SP9 \ ( 3TROL
UNTIL "O FATE;L "D :ILE EN R\TE F
,HAWAII 6"O (! SMALL] ISL&S ": HE 0
S*$UL$ 6P]=M A 3C]T4 8,I _H BE5 GO+ TOO
/R;G T WEEK & 9 ! LA/ TWO "DS PREVI\S 6?
,I _H N GOTT5 ANY SLEEP4 ,S ,I 0 RE,Y
TRY+ 6J KEEP GO+ ON ! SPE$1 & ,I F9,Y
W5T TOO F>40
  ,! 5T]TA9] SU6]$ A SEV]E DRUG OV]DOSE
9 MID-FLI<T1 REGA9+ 3SCI\S;S 9 A
HOSPITAL ROOM NE>LY =TY-EI<T H\RS LAT]4
,,BJ4 LE>N$ F DOCTORS T HE _H ONLY BE5
MO;TS AWAY F D1?4
  8,!Y SD MY LIPS & MY F+]NAILS _H TURN$
BLACK1 & !Y CDN'T GET A PULSE4 ,I _H G"O
6! BA?ROOM ALL OV] MYF--T'S :AT Y D :5 Y
DIE--Y G 6! BA?ROOM ALL OV] YRF4
  8,!Y ASSUM$ ON ! PLANE T ,I _H DI$4
,!Y CALL$ ! EM]G5CY SQUAD & !Y TOOK ME
(F ! PLANE & !Y GOT ME 6! HOSPITAL4 ,!
?+ T SAV$ MY LIFE 0 T X 0 ONLY A F\RTE5-
M9UTE FLI<T4 ,IF X _H BE5 ANO!R TW5TY
M9UTES ,I PROBABLY WD'VE DI$40
  ,YE>S LAT]1 ,B4,J4 / REMEMB]S !
DEPRES.N HE FELT Z HE LAY AL"O 9 T
HOSPITAL ROOM4 ,HE AL RECALLS H[ :ILE 9
! MID/ ( GLOOMY ?"\S AB 8 FUTURE1 ! DOOR
6HIS ROOM OP5$ &A NURSE 5T]$ 6FIX 8 B$4
  ,! SI<T (! NURSE MADE HM FEEL BETT]1
,B4,J4 RECALLS4 ,HE 0 L"OLY = -PANY &
EAG] = "S"O 6TALK TO4 8,I 0 ?9K+ AB MY
WIFE ,GLORIA1 :O ,I 0 SEP>AT$ F AT T "T4
,& ,I SD 6! NURSE1 :O 0 /RAI<T5+ MY B$1
,8,Y "K1 ,I DON'T "K :Y ,I J DIDN'T DIE4
,D Y80'0
  ,L;G MO;TS PASS$ :ILE ! NURSE />$ AT
H] PATI5T4 8,YES1 ,I D10 %E F9,Y REPLI$4
8,Y DIDN'T DIE 2C ,GOD HAS "S?+ = Y 6D40
,%E !N RESUM$ H] DUTIES )\T UTT]+ ANO!R
^W4
  ,= ,B4,J41 ^? FEW ^WS NE>LY BR"\ HM 6!
BR9K ( TE>S4 ,HE REMEMB]S N FEEL+ S
_SU,Y T\*$ S9CE ! "DS :5 HE & 8 BRO!R WD
VISIT FAMILIES ) _! M9I/]4
  8,X 0 A R1L MATT]-(-FACT K9DA ?+ ! WAY
%E SD X1 Y "K4 ,B =! F/ "T1 ,I GUESS1
S9CE ,I _H BE5 A BOY1 X DAWN$ ON ME
,8,Y1H1 HEY1 WAIT A M9UTE4 ,GOD'S "P (
ALL ? /UFF4 ,MAYBE ,HE DOES H A PLAN =
ME40'0
  ,^U RETURN+ HOME 6,NEW ,YORK ,C;Y1 "!
0 A PL1SANT SURPRISE AWAIT+ HM4 8,GLORIA
CALL$ ME4 ,WE'D BE5 SEP>AT$ = PROBABLY
EI<T MON?S4 ,& %E SAYS 6ME1 ',B4,J41 W Y
-E HOME80'0
  ,TWO "DS LAT]1 ,B4,J4 0 BACK 9
,MEMPHIS ": A TE>;L REUNION TOOK PLACE
2T ! 5T]TA9]1 8 WIFE1 & _! FIVE-YE>-OLD
DAU<T]1 ,PAIGE4
  ,"! 0 EV5 M SURPRIS+ NEWS 9 /ORE = HM4
8,GLORIA TOLD ME T %E _H A _SUAL AWAK5+
& T %E 0 BORN AG4 ,%E AL TOLD ME T %E _H
CALL$ MY AG5CY & ASK$ !M N 6LET ME G
6,HAWAII 2C %E _H A PREMONI;N T ,I WD
DIE "!1 & T %E & MY DAU<T] _H PRAY$ =
ME40
  ,AL? DEEPLY T\*$ 0HIS WIFE'S 3C]N1
,B4,J4 REMEMB]S BRIDL+ :5 ,GLORIA SU7E/$
T HE MEET TWO LAY M9I/]S :O 7 9/RU;TAL 9
H] [N RELIGI\S 3V].N4 8,I SD
,8,ABSOLUTELY N4 ,NO WAY40' ,TWO "DS
LAT] ,I 5D$ UP AT ? FAMILY'S H\SE ": ,I
MET !M40
  ,JIM ,REEVES1 A ,TEXAS CATTLEMAN1 & 8
ASSOCIATE1 ,BO2Y ,GUESS1 7 ALR WAIT+ =
,B4,J4 :5 ! P]=M] >RIV$4 8,I LOOK$ AT
,GLORIA & AT ^! GUYS :O ,I KNEW 7 GO+
6TALK 6ME AB _SUAL ?+S1 & ,I 0 R1DY =A
GD 4CUS.N40
  ,B UN"KN 6! P]=M]1 M ?AN J A 4CUS.N 0
AB 6TAKE PLACE--X WD 2 AN EV5T T WD
TRANS=M 8 5TIRE LIFE4
  8,JIM & ,BO2Y ASK$ ME 6/EP 96ANO!R
ROOM ": ,JIM DID MO/ (! TALK+4 ,HE SD
6ME1 ,8,,BJ41 :5 ,I LOOK AT Y 9 YR EYES1
Y SC>E ME4 ,C ,I PRAY A PRAY] (
PROTEC;N80'0
  ,8 F/ REAC;N 6T 0 6SAY NO1 ,,BJ4
RECOLLECTS1 B HE *ANG$ 8 M9D4 8,I SD1
,8,SURE1 :AT D ,I C>E80' ,B :AT ,I 0
?9K+ IS ,8,BOY1 IS ? GUY A J]K40' ,I 0
AL ?9K+ AT ! SAME "T1 ,8,WELL1 HE'S A
NICE GUY = DO+ ?0' & ,8,:O IS ?
C[BOY80'0
  ,REEVES NEXT ASK$ ! 5T]TA9] IF HE 0
RELIGI\S OR _SUAL4 8,I'M _SUAL10 ,B4,J4
RECALLS REPLY+1 DRAW+ A NOD ( APPROVAL F
! LAY M9I/]4 8,GD10 ,REEVES EXCLAIM$1
8!N Y'LL "K :AT ,I'M TALK+ AB40
  8,HE />T$ PRAY+ = ME4 ,HE 0 ASK+
,JESUS 6PROTECT ME F ,SATAN4 ,HE 0 (F]+
UP PRAY]S SAY+ "S?+ L1 ,8,"L1 0! %$
BLOOD ( ,JESUS ,*RI/1 ,I ASK YR PROTEC;N
OV] ,B4,J40'0
  ,:AT HAPP5$ NEXT IS "S?+ T ! RECORD+
/> ASS]TS HE W N"E =GET4 8,ALL (A SU45
,I HE> ? L\D SNAP4 ,X 0 L A %OT OR A
TREE LIMB BR1K+4 ,X 0 ? BIG CRACK -+ F !
LEFT SIDE ( MY *E/4
  8,I J KNEW T :5 ,I LOOK$ D[N MY RIB 0
GO+ 6BE /ICK+ "? MY *E/ OR "S?+4 ,I ?"\
,I _H BROK5 A B"O OR A RIB40
  ,9/1D1 :AT ,B4,J4 SAW :5 HE GL.ED D[N
AT 8 *E/ 0 N A BROK5 B"O EM]G+ F 8 BODY1
B "S?+ M* M S9I/]4
  8,X 0 "S?+ T 0 ALM L AIR OR ALM L W9D4
,X CAME \ ( MY *E/ & K9D ( CURV$ >.D &
W5T "R 0,JIM'S H1D & \ ! W9D[PANE 2H 8
H1D4 ,"! WASN'T ANY =M 6X4
  8,X 0 UNBELIEVA#4 ,I M1N X 0 J PLA9
UNBELIEVA#4 ,X 0 L A SPECIAL E6ECTS
?+---L MAYBE !Y 7 DO+ ! SPECIAL E6ECTS =
A ,CASP] MOVIE OR "S?+4 ,OR ,<O/BU/]S4
  ,F"R5$ 0:AT HE 0 EXP]I5C+1 ,B4,J4
RECALLS SE>*+ ! EYES (! TWO M9I/]S 6SEE
H[ !Y 7 REACT+ 6? PH5OM5ON4 ,HE QKLY
R1LIZ$ T NO "O ELSE 0 WIT;S+ ? EVIL
PRES;E4
  8,I ?"\ = SURE !Y WD AT L1/ H HE>D !
CRACK+ S.D4 ,B NO "O DID4 ,M1N:ILE1 ,I 0
HAV+ ? ILLU.N ( ? ?+ -+ "R \ ( MY *E/40
  ,:AT 2GAN Z A T]RIFY+ EXP]I;E GRADU,Y
DEVELOP$ 96A M* M -=T+ "O1 HE RECALLS4
8,I N[ _H ^! MELL[ & RECEPTIVE FEEL+S4
,I FELT T "S?+ T _H BE5 BLOCK+ MY HE>T
_H BE5 REMOV$ 0A SIMPLE PRAY]4
  8,I J KNEW T "S?+ _H BE5 /&+ 2T MY
HE>T & MY S\L & X 0 NO L;G] "!4 ,I "K X
J HAPP5$ & X'S "S?+ T ,I'VE N"E BE5 Q A#
6EXPLA94
  8,I W5T HOME T NI<T1 ?REW AWAY L OV] A
P.D ( DRUGS--J ?REW X ALL AWAY--& ,I
GAVE UP BOOZE T EV5+ Z WELL4 ,I GAVE X
ALL UP 9 "O EV5+ AF T EXP]I;E & ,I DID N
EXP]I;E EV5 "O SECOND ( )DRAWAL4 ,N "O
M9UTE4 ,& ,I'VE BE5 "? )DRAWAL _M "TS 9
MY LIFE40
  ,0 X ! DEVIL T 0 EX]CIS$ T EV5+8
,B4,J4 SIMPLY %RUGS 9 2WILD];T4 8,I'M N
NECESS>ILY A BIG 2LIEV] 9 ! DEVIL1 &
,I'VE N"E BE5 "PICUL>LY 9T]E/$ 9 :E!R OR
N "! 7 PR9CIPALITIES ( DEMONS OR :AT"E
^? P TALK AB4 ,I DIDN'T 3C]N MYF ) T 2C
IF ,I DID1 :AT GD WD X D ME8 ,I CDN'T
DEF1T ANY ( !M4
  8,9/1D1 ,I'VE ALW J TRU/$ MY GU>DIAN
ANGELS & :O"E ELSE WANTS ME 6G "? ? LIFE
T !Y WD KEEP ME F 2+ DE/ROY$ 0ANY?+ L T4
,B ,I D ?9K T DUR+ ! YE>S ( MY DRUG
A4IC;N "! 7 ?"\ PATT]NS DUE 6! WAY ,I 0
LIV+ T C CR1TE C]TA9 BUILDUPS4
  8,:AT"E X WAS1 ! SIMPLE PRAY] T ? GUY
SD _H CL1N$ \ T /UFF4 ,X 0 L "S?+ _H
GOTT5 96MY CLOSET--,I HESITATE 6SAY X 0
A DEMONIC P[] OR "S?+4 ,B :AT ,I SAW 0
"S?+ ,I SURE H N"E BE5 A# 6EXPLA91 & N[
ALL ! JUNKY /UFF 9 ! CLOSET _H BE5 CL1N$
\40
  ,FEEL+ Z IF HE _H BE5 GIV5 A NEW L1SE
ON LIFE1 ,B4,J4 2GAN 6POND] :AT HE %D D
AB 8 C>E]4 8,I J DIDN'T "K :AT ,I 0 GO+
6D--:E!R ,I 0 / GO+ 6BE AN 5T]TA9] OR N4
  8,JIM 0 TALK+ 6ME AB GO+ 96! CATTLE
BUSI;S1 & ,I B"\ A TRUCK & ,I 0 ?9K+ AB
DO+ T K9D ( ?+40
  ,A PH"O CALL WD HELP HM MAKE UP 8 M9D4
,ON ! O!R 5D (! L9E 0 AN EXECUTIVE F
,MYRRH ,RECORDS1 A RELIGI\S LABEL )A /A#
( TOP-(-!-L9E ,GOSPEL >TI/S1 MAK+ AN
5TIC+ (F] 6! P]=M]4
  8,I'D N"E HE>D ( !M4 ,B :5 !Y ASK$ ME
IF ,I WANT$ 6MAKE A ,GOSPEL RECORD1 ,I
SD1 ,8,I RE,Y WD4 ,I'D L 6EXPRESS H[
,I'M FEEL+ "R N[40' ,&1 ( C\RSE1 WE MADE
! RECORD ,8,HOME ,IS ,": ,I ,2L;G40'0
  ,T #AIGG ,GOSPEL ALBUM WD G ON 6E>N
,,BJ4 8 F/ ,GRAMMY ,AW>D = 8,BE/
,9SPIR,NAL ,P]=M.E40 ,X WD 2 ! F/ ( FIVE
,GRAMMY ,AW>DS T HE RCVD = P]=M+ ,GOSPEL
MUSIC 2F SWIT*+ BACK 6A SECUL> =MAT 9 !
MID-EI<TIES4 ,T -EBACK RESULT$ 9 M HIT
RECORDS =! TAL5T$ S+] & S;G-WRIT]4
  8,"EY?+ GD />T$ HAPP5+ 6ME F T EV5+4
  8,MY WIFE & ,I _H "S M KIDS & WE DID A
,GOSPEL T\R ": WE W5T 6,*9A & EV5TU,Y
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