To Make Me Who I Am

I’ve walked through this world sometime 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 stench 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"