Dyin's Not the Only Way

One day I was just sitting,
With my thoughts, all by myself,
Wondering what had happened,
Why my life had gone to hell
I was feeling sick and sorry,
Depression was my game,
I wondered how I kept living,
When every day was just the same

I was staring off into space,
As this old lady, she walked by,
I wasn't paying enough attention,
To see the wisdom in her eyes
She stopped and looked at me,
And then she held out to me her hand,
She said "Before you can start living,
You have to understand,
That dyin's not the only way"

I screamed "No! I cannot take this!
I just want it all to end!"
That old lady, she looked at me,
And this is what she said:

"Dyin's not the only way"

She said "If you really want it,
If you can make yourself believe,
Then you will find the strength,
To get up off your knees,
Cause dyin's not the only way"

"No, dyin's not the only way"

I was angry and so bitter,
I just wanted to lash out,
But that lady, she just looked at me,
And she took me down
She didn't have touch me,
To know that she would win,
She said "Now that all that's settled,
It's time for us to begin"

She said that that life would do my bidding,
If only I would stand,
And I said "I would love to,
But I don't know if I can"
That old lady just looked at me,
And again held out her hand,
She said "Before you can start living,
You have to understand,
That dyin's not the only way"

I screamed "How can you say that?
I've lost all of my friends!"
That old lady, she just looked at me,
And this is what she said:

"Dyin's not the only way"

She said "If you really want it,
If you can make yourself believe,
Then you will find the strength,
To get up off your knees,
Cause dyin's not the only way"

"No, dyin's not the only way"

She said:
"To live is to learn,
To deny is to burn
You can stand up for yourself,
Or just watch the seasons turn..."

Then she looked at me,
And asked if I was ready to understand,
If I had it in me...

To become more than I am...

I wanted to scream...
That I wanted it all to end...
But before I could say it...
She held up a finger,
And this is what she said...

"Dyin's not the only way"

She said "If you really want it,
If you can make yourself believe,
Then you will find the strength,
To get up off your knees,
Cause dyin's not the only way"

"No, dyin's not the only way"

That was twenty years ago...
I remember it like it was yesterday...

jlp april 7, 2010